atomism (ˈætəˌmɪzəm) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | See atom an ancient philosophical theory, developed by Democritus and expounded by Lucretius, that the ultimate constituents of the universe are atoms |
| 2. | a. any of a number of theories that hold that some objects or phenomena can be explained as constructed out of a small number of distinct types of simple indivisible entities |
| b. Compare holism any theory that holds that an understanding of the parts is logically prior to an understanding of the whole | |
| 3. | psychol the theory that experiences and mental states are composed of elementary units |
| 'atomist | |
| —n, —adj | |
| atom'istic | |
| —adj | |
| atom'istical | |
| —adj | |
| atom'istically | |
| —adv | |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |