the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb
"The news report confirmed that the incoming nuke would detonate over the city center."
A nuclear weapon.
"The old cottage was tucked away in a quiet nuke by the riverbank."
Alternative spelling of nuc (“nucleus colony of bees”)
Alternative form of nucha (“spinal cord; nape of the neck”)
Alternative form of nook (“a corner of a piece of land; an angled piece of land, especially one extending into other land”)
In plain English: A nuke is an extremely powerful nuclear weapon designed to destroy large areas with massive explosions.
"The nuclear nuke was buried deep underground for safety."
To use a nuclear weapon on a target.
"The military decided to nuke the enemy base before they could launch their missiles."
In plain English: To nuke something means to destroy it completely using nuclear weapons.
"He decided to nuke some frozen pizza for dinner."
Usage: Use this verb to describe the act of destroying something with a nuclear bomb, though it is often used hyperbolically for any rapid or total elimination in casual conversation. Avoid using it as a synonym for "cook" unless you are specifically referring to heating food via radiation, which remains an archaic and rare meaning today.
The word nuke originated as a clipped form of the longer phrase nuclear weapon. It entered English usage specifically to refer to using such an explosive device.