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atmosphere
[ at-muhs-feer ]
noun
- the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth; the air:
a weather balloon rising high into the atmosphere.
- this medium at a given place:
the warm, dry atmosphere of the Joshua tree's natural environment.
- Astronomy. the gaseous envelope surrounding a heavenly body:
The white ovals seen in Saturn's atmosphere could be intense storms.
- Chemistry. any gaseous envelope or medium:
The ether was treated with a sulfate in an atmosphere of coal gas.
- a conventional unit of pressure, the normal pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch (101.3 kilopascals), equal to the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 29.92 inches (760 millimeters) high. : atm.
- a surrounding or pervading mood, environment, or influence:
an atmosphere of impending war;
a very tense atmosphere.
- the dominant mood or emotional tone of a work of art, as of a play or novel:
the chilly atmosphere of a ghost story.
- a distinctive quality, as of a place; character:
The old part of town has lots of atmosphere.
- Also at·mos·pheres, at·mos []. Radio, Television, Movies. the background sound that is present, or would naturally be present, in the location where a recording or broadcast is made, often recorded as a separate track and then mixed; ambient sound.
verb (used with object)
- to give an atmosphere to:
The author had cleverly atmosphered the novel for added chills.
atmosphere
/ ˈætməsˌfɪə /
noun
- the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth or any other celestial body See also troposphere stratosphere mesosphere ionosphere
- the air or climate in a particular place
the atmosphere was thick with smoke
- a general pervasive feeling or mood
an atmosphere of elation
- the prevailing tone or mood of a novel, symphony, painting, or other work of art
- a special mood or character associated with a place
- any local gaseous environment or medium
an inert atmosphere
- a unit of pressure; the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at 0°C at sea level. 1 atmosphere is equivalent to 101 325 newtons per square metre or 14.72 pounds per square inch Abbreviationatatm
atmosphere
/ ăt′mə-sfîr′ /
- The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth or other celestial body, held in place by gravity. It forms distinct layers at different heights. The Earth's atmosphere consists, in ascending order, of the troposphere (containing 90% of the atmosphere's mass), the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) and plays a major role in the water cycle , the nitrogen cycle , and the carbon cycle .
- See more at exosphere
- A unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch, or 1,013 millibars.
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Notes
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Derived Forms
- ˌatmosˈpheric, adjective
- ˌatmosˈpherically, adverb
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Other Words From
- at·mos·phere·less adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of atmosphere1
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Example Sentences
The atmosphere on campuses has gotten repressive enough that comedian Chris Rock no longer plays colleges.
There is a long history of official anti-clericalism in Mexico, but the atmosphere in Tierra Caliente goes far beyond that.
However, several probes—most recently the Curiosity rover—have measured methane in the Martian atmosphere.
Visibly affected the by military atmosphere the young man admitted his emotions were volatile.
Over a decade, his teaching often took place in an atmosphere of what one cadet called “wanton disrespect.”
The tops of the hills were laden with thunder-clouds, and the turbid atmosphere laboured with the stifling Sirocco.
The atmosphere seemed drawn taut before him as though it must any instant split open upon a sound of crying.
Meyer Isaacson stood for a moment looking round, feeling the atmosphere of this room, or at least trying to feel it.
This English country and these wonderful old houses, with their inimitable atmosphere, appeal to me very strongly.
Isabel suddenly felt herself and her organdie absurdly out of place in this room with its enchantress atmosphere.
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