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atom

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at⋅om

  [at-uhm]
Use atom in a Sentence
–noun
1. Physics.
a. the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element, consisting of a nucleus containing combinations of neutrons and protons and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus by electrical attraction; the number of protons determines the identity of the element.
b. an atom with one of the electrons replaced by some other particle: muonic atom; kaonic atom.
2. Energy. this component as the source of nuclear energy.
3. a hypothetical particle of matter so minute as to admit of no division.
4. anything extremely small; a minute quantity.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME attomos, athomus < L atomus < Gk átomos, n. use of átomos undivided, equiv. to a- a- 6 + tomós divided, verbid of témnein to cut

Synonyms:
4. shred, speck, scintilla, iota, jot, whit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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at·om   (āt'əm)   


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n.  

    1. A part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified system.

    2. The irreducible, indestructible material unit postulated by ancient atomism.

    3. A unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element, having all the characteristics of that element and consisting of a dense, central, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a system of electrons. The entire structure has an approximate diameter of 10-8 centimeter and characteristically remains undivided in chemical reactions except for limited removal, transfer, or exchange of certain electrons.

    4. This unit regarded as a source of nuclear energy. See Table at subatomic particle.

  2. An extremely small part, quantity, or amount.

  3. Physics & Chemistry

    1. A unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element, having all the characteristics of that element and consisting of a dense, central, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a system of electrons. The entire structure has an approximate diameter of 10-8 centimeter and characteristically remains undivided in chemical reactions except for limited removal, transfer, or exchange of certain electrons.

    2. This unit regarded as a source of nuclear energy. See Table at subatomic particle.


[Middle English attome, from Latin atomus, from Greek atomos, indivisible, atom : a-, not; see a-1 + tomos, cutting (from temnein, to cut; see tem- in Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

atom

A unit of matter; the smallest unit of a chemical element. Each atom consists of a nucleus, which has a positive charge, and a set of electrons that move around the nucleus. (See Bohr atom.)

Note: Atoms link together to form molecules.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

atom 
1477, as a hypothetical body, the building block of the universe, from L. atomus (especially in Lucretius), from Gk. atomos "uncut," from a- "not" + tomos "a cutting," from temnein "to cut." An ancient term of philosophical speculation (in Leucippus, Democritus), revived 1805 by British chemist Dalton. Atomic is from 1678 as a philosophical term; scientific sense dates from 1811. Atomic energy first recorded 1906; atomic bomb first recorded 1914 in writings of H.G. Wells, who thought of it as a bomb "that would continue to explode indefinitely." Atom bomb is from 1945; Atomic Age is from 1945.
"When you can drop just one atomic bomb and wipe out Paris or Berlin, war will have become monstrous and impossible." [S. Strunsky, "Yale Review," January 1917]
Atomize "reduce a liquid to a fine mist" is from 1865; sense of "to destroy with atomic weapons" is from 1945.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: at·om
Pronunciation: 'at-&m
Function: noun
: the smallest particle of an element that can exist either alone or in combination —atom·ic /&-'täm-ik/ adjective —atom·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

atom at·om (āt'əm)
n.

  1. A unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element, having all the characteristics of that element and consisting of a dense, central, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a system of electrons. The entire structure has an approximate diameter of 10-8 centimeter and characteristically remains undivided in chemical reactions except for limited removal, transfer, or exchange of certain electrons.

  2. This unit regarded as a source of nuclear energy.

  3. A part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified system.

  4. The irreducible, indestructible material unit postulated by ancient atomism.

  5. An extremely small part, quantity, or amount.

a·tom'ic (ə-tŏm'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
atom   (āt'əm)  Pronunciation Key 
The smallest unit of an element, consisting of at least one proton and (for all elements except hydrogen) one or more neutrons in a dense central nucleus, surrounded by one or more shells of electrons. In electrically neutral atoms, the number of protons equals the number of electrons. Atoms remain intact in chemical reactions except for the removal, transfer, or exchange of certain electrons. Compare compound. See also ion, isotope, orbital.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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