What does subcritical mean?
Below the critical point or value; in a state of being below the minimum required for a particular process or reaction to occur. In physics, a subcritical mass is a mass of fissile material that is too small to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
Example
"The subcritical conditions in the reactor made it impossible to achieve a stable nuclear reaction."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.