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Webster 1913 Edition

Atom

At′om

,
Noun.
[L.
atomus
, Gr. [GREEK], uncut, indivisible;
ἀ
priv. + [GREEK], verbal adj. of [GREEK] to cut: cf. F.
atome
. See
Tome
.]
1.
(Physics)
(a)
An ultimate indivisible particle of matter.
(b)
An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily indivisible; a molecule.
(c)
A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule supposed to be made up of subordinate particles.
☞ These three definitions correspond to different views of the nature of the ultimate particles of matter. In the case of the last two, the particles are more correctly called molecules.
Dana.
2.
(Chem.)
The smallest particle of matter that can enter into combination; one of the elementary constituents of a molecule.
3.
Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit.
There was not an
atom
of water.
Sir J. Ross.

At′om

,
Verb.
T.
To reduce to atoms.
[Obs.]
Feltham.

Webster 1828 Edition

Atom

AT'OM

,
Noun.
[Gr.; L. atomus; from not, and to cut.]
1.
A particle of matter so minute as to admit of no division. Atoms are conceived to be the first principles or component parts of all bodies.
2.
The ultimate or smallest component part of a body.
3.
Any thing extremely small.

Definition 2024

Atom

Atom

See also: atom, atóm, àtom, atom-, and atom'

German

Noun

Atom n ‎(genitive Atoms, plural Atome)

  1. atom

Declension

Derived terms

Related terms

See also

Turkish

Proper noun

Atom

  1. A male given name

atom

atom

See also: Atom, atóm, àtom, atom-, and atom'

English

A stylized representation of a lithium atom based on the Rutherford model

Alternative forms

Noun

atom ‎(plural atoms)

  1. (chemistry, physics) The smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. [from 16th c.]
  2. (history of science) A hypothetical particle posited by Greek philosophers as an ultimate and indivisible component of matter. [from 15th c.]
    A molecule is a close combination of atoms.‎
    • 2013 September–October, Katie L. Burke, “In the news: Photosynthesis precursor”, in American Scientist, archived from the original on 13 April 2016:
      Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the water-oxidizing complex, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.
  3. (now generally regarded figuratively) The smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something. [from 17th c.]
    • 1835, John Ross; James Clark Ross, “Chapter XXXIV. Labour in Cutting through the Ice—Become Fixed for the Winter—Summary of the Month.”, in Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions, during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833; by Sir John Ross, C.B., K.S.A., K.C.S., &c. &c. Captain in the Royal Navy. Including the Reports of Commander (now Captain) J. C. Ross, R.N., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. and the Discovery of the Northern Magnetic Pole, Philadelphia, Pa.: E. A. Carey & A. Hart; Baltimore, Md.: Carey, Hart & Co., OCLC 936607945, pages 283–284:
      Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
  4. (now historical) The smallest medieval unit of time, equal to fifteen ninety-fourths of a second. [from 10th c.]
  5. A mote of dust in a sunbeam. [from 16th c.]
  6. A very small amount; a whit. [from 17th c.]
    • 1873, “Pansy” [pseudonym; Isabella Macdonald Alden], “A Double Crisis”, in Three People, Cincinnati, Oh.: Western Tract and Book Society, 176 Elm Street, OCLC 29248538, page 325:
      "Doctor, tell me one word more," said Theodore, quivering with suppressed emotion. "How do you think it will end?" / "I have hardly the faintest atom of hope," answered this honest, earnest man.
    • 1945 May, George Orwell, chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473:
      Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.
  7. (computing, programming, Lisp) An individual number or symbol, as opposed to a list; a scalar value. [from 20th c.]
  8. (mathematics, algebra) A non-zero member of a Boolean algebra that is not a union of any other elements. [from 20th c.]
  9. (mathematics, set theory) An element of a set that is not itself a set; an urelement. [from 20th c.]

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:atom
  • (small amount): see also Wikisaurus:modicum.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Czech

Noun

atom m

  1. (physics) atom

Related terms

Danish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /atoːm/, [aˈtˢoːˀm]

Noun

atom n (singular definite atomet, plural indefinite atomer)

  1. atom

Inflection

Hungarian

Etymology

From English atom, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος ‎(átomos, “indivisible”), from ἀ- ‎(a-, “not”) + τέμνω ‎(témnō, “I cut”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈɒtom]
  • Hyphenation: atom

Noun

atom ‎(plural atomok)

  1. atom

Declension

Inflection (stem in -o-, back harmony)
singular plural
nominative atom atomok
accusative atomot atomokat
dative atomnak atomoknak
instrumental atommal atomokkal
causal-final atomért atomokért
translative atommá atomokká
terminative atomig atomokig
essive-formal atomként atomokként
essive-modal — —
inessive atomban atomokban
superessive atomon atomokon
adessive atomnál atomoknál
illative atomba atomokba
sublative atomra atomokra
allative atomhoz atomokhoz
elative atomból atomokból
delative atomról atomokról
ablative atomtól atomoktól
Possessive forms of atom
possessor single possession multiple possessions
1st person sing. atomom atomjaim
2nd person sing. atomod atomjaid
3rd person sing. atomja atomjai
1st person plural atomunk atomjaink
2nd person plural atomotok atomjaitok
3rd person plural atomjuk atomjaik

Derived terms

(Compound words):

References

  1. ↑ Tótfalusi István, Idegenszó-tár: Idegen szavak értelmező és etimológiai szótára. Tinta Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 2005, ISBN 963 7094 20 2

Malay

Etymology

From English atom, from Old French atome, from Latin atomus, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος ‎(átomos).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /atom/
  • Rhymes: -atom, -tom, -om

Noun

atom

  1. (physics) atom (physics: smallest possible amount of matter retaining its chemical properties)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Ancient Greek atomos

Noun

atom n ‎(definite singular atomet, indefinite plural atom or atomer, definite plural atoma or atomene)

  1. an atom

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Ancient Greek atomos

Noun

atom n ‎(definite singular atomet, indefinite plural atom, definite plural atoma)

  1. an atom

Derived terms

References

Polish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈat̪ɔm/

Noun

atom m inan

  1. (physics) atom

Declension

Derived terms

Romanian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aˈtom/

Noun

atom m ‎(plural atomi)

  1. atom
Declension

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἄτομος ‎(átomos).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ǎtoːm/
  • Hyphenation: a‧tom

Noun

àtōm m ‎(Cyrillic spelling а̀то̄м)

  1. atom

Declension

References

  • “atom” in Hrvatski jezični portal

Swedish

Noun

atom c

  1. atom; the smallest particle to retain the properties of the element
  2. (historical) atom; the theoretically smallest possible particle

Declension

Inflection of atom 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative atom atomen atomer atomerna
Genitive atoms atomens atomers atomernas

Related terms

See also

Turkish

Etymology

Borrowing from French atome.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ɑˈtɔm]

Noun

atom ‎(definite accusative atomu, plural atomlar)

  1. (physics) atom

Declension

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -oːm

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