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molecules

- 3 dictionary results

mol⋅e⋅cule

[mol-uh-kyool]
–noun
1. Chemistry, Physics. the smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound.
2. Chemistry. a quantity of a substance, the weight of which, measured in any chosen unit, is numerically equal to the molecular weight; gram molecule.
3. any very small particle.

Origin:
1785–95; earlier molecula < NL, equiv. to L mōlē(s) mass + -cula -cule 1
mol·e·cule   (mŏl'ĭ-kyōōl')   
n.  
  1. The smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two or more atoms; a group of like or different atoms held together by chemical forces.
  2. A small particle; a tiny bit.

[French molécule, from New Latin mōlēcula, diminutive of Latin mōlēs, mass.]
molecule   (mŏl'ĭ-kyl')  Pronunciation Key 
A group of two or more atoms linked together by sharing electrons in a chemical bond. Molecules are the fundamental components of chemical compounds and are the smallest part of a compound that can participate in a chemical reaction.
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