View synonyms for atlas

atlas

[ at-luhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural at·las·es at·lan·tes [at-, lan, -teez]

a bound collection of maps.
a bound volume of charts, plates, or tables illustrating any subject.
Anatomy. the first cervical vertebra, which supports the head.
a size of drawing or writing paper, 26 × 34 or 33 inches.
Also called telamon. Architecture. a sculptural figure of a man used as a column.

Atlas

[ at-luhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural At·las·es

Classical Mythology. a Titan, son of Iapetus and brother of Prometheus and Epimetheus, condemned to support the sky on his shoulders: identified by the ancients with the Atlas Mountains.
a person who supports a heavy burden; a mainstay.
Charles Angelo Siciliano, 1894–1972, U.S. body-building advocate, born in Italy.
a liquid-propellant booster rocket, originally developed as the first U.S. ICBM, used with Agena or Centaur upper stages to launch satellites into orbit around the earth and send probes to the moon and planets; also used to launch the Mercury spacecraft into orbit around the earth.

atlas

/ ˈætləs /

noun

a collection of maps, usually in book form
a book of charts, graphs, etc, illustrating aspects of a subject
an anatomical atlas
See axis
anatomy the first cervical vertebra, attached to and supporting the skull in man Compare axis 1
See telamon
atlantes architect another name for telamon
a standard size of drawing paper, 26 × 17 inches

Atlas

/ ˈætləs /

noun

Greek myth a Titan compelled to support the sky on his shoulders as punishment for rebelling against Zeus
a US intercontinental ballistic missile, also used in launching spacecraft
astronomy a small satellite of Saturn, discovered in 1980

Atlas

In classical mythology , a Titan famous for his strength. After the defeat of the Titans by Zeus , Atlas was condemned to support the Earth and sky on his shoulders for eternity.

atlas

A bound collection of maps. Atlases are named after the Greek god Atlas .

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Notes

An “Atlas” or “atlas” is an incredibly strong person or one who carries an enormous burden.

Since the sixteenth century, pictures of Atlas and his burden have been used as decorations on maps. Accordingly, the word atlas is used for a book of maps.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of atlas¹

1580–90 in sense “prop, support”; as name for a collection of maps, said to be from illustrations of Atlas supporting the globe in early books of this kind

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Word History and Origins

Origin of atlas¹

C16: via Latin from Greek; first applied to maps, from depictions of Atlas supporting the heavens in 16th-century collections of maps

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Example Sentences

He would navigate from the cockpit using a road atlas—while snorting cocaine off the map.

From The Daily Beast

Think of the difference between a satellite image and a road atlas.

From The Daily Beast

The Delta IV can carry a larger payload into low earth orbit than the Atlas V, 60,779 lbs.

From The Daily Beast

Think of the sky chart, the song map, the winter count, and the cloud atlas.

From The Daily Beast

“The lair of the laser loves all of you,” he tells a visiting Atlas Obscura tour group.

From The Daily Beast

Sanson's Atlas: a very large atlas by a French geographer in use in Swift's time.

From Project Gutenberg

Once, during the recreation hour, he was turning over the pages of his atlas.

From Project Gutenberg

We have been searching the atlas, and it seems difficult to fill the bill.

From Project Gutenberg

When he addresses himself to battle against the guardian angels, he stands like Teneriffe or Atlas; his stature reaches the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

The mighty Atlas would never sustain it upon his broad shoulders if it did nobody good.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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