WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

nuke
    n 1: the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb
         [syn: atomic warhead, nuclear warhead, thermonuclear
         warhead, nuke]
    v 1: strike at with firepower or bombs; "zap the enemy" [syn:
         nuke, atomize, atomise, zap]
    2: bomb with atomic weapons [syn: atom-bomb, nuke]
    3: cook or heat in a microwave oven; "You can microwave the
       leftovers" [syn: microwave, micro-cook, zap, nuke]

The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

nuke
 /n[y]ook/, vt.

    [common]

    1. To intentionally delete the entire contents of a given directory or
    storage volume. ?On Unix, rm -r /usr will nuke everything in the usr
    filesystem.? Never used for accidental deletion; contrast blow away.

    2. Syn. for dike, applied to smaller things such as files, features, or
    code sections. Often used to express a final verdict. ?What do you want me
    to do with that 80-meg session file?? ?Nuke it.?

    3. Used of processes as well as files; nuke is a frequent verbal alias for
    kill -9 on Unix.

    4. On IBM PCs, a bug that results in fandango on core can trash the
    operating system, including the FAT (the in-core copy of the disk block
    chaining information). This can utterly scramble attached disks, which are
    then said to have been nuked. This term is also used of analogous lossages
    on Macintoshes and other micros without memory protection.


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

nuke

   /n[y]ook/ 1. To intentionally delete the entire contents of a
   given directory or storage volume.  "On Unix, "rm -r /usr"
   will nuke everything in the usr file system."  Never used for
   accidental deletion.

   2. Synonym for dike, applied to smaller things such as
   files, features, or code sections.  Often used to express a
   final verdict.  "What do you want me to do with that 80-meg
   wallpaper file?"  "Nuke it."

   3. Used of processes as well as files; nuke is a frequent
   verbal alias for "kill -9" on Unix.

   4. On IBM PCs, a bug that results in fandango on core can
   trash the operating system, including the FAT (the in-core
   copy of the disk block chaining information).  This can
   utterly scramble attached disks, which are then said to have
   been "nuked".  This term is also used of analogous lossages on
   Macintoshes and other micros without memory protection.

   [Jargon File]