atom

English Online Dictionary. What means atom‎? What does atom mean?

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English attome, from Middle French athome, from Latin atomus (“smallest particle”), from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos, “indivisible”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) +‎ τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”). Atoms are so named because historically the notion was that they were indivisible, given that chemically they are indeed so; the splitting of atoms awaited a later era of science and technology, and nonchemical means. Doublet of atomus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈætəm/
• (General American) IPA^(key): [ˈæɾm̩], [ˈæɾəm]
• Rhymes: -ætəm
• Homophone: Adam (in dialects with flapping)
• Hyphenation: at‧om

Noun

atom (plural atoms)

1. (chemistry, physics) The smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. [from 16th c.]

   Meronyms: proton, neutron, electron
2. (history of science) A hypothetical particle posited by Greek philosophers as an ultimate and indivisible component of matter. [from 15th c.]
3. (now generally regarded figuratively) The smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something. [from 17th c.]
4. (philosophy) In logical atomism, a fundamental fact that cannot be further broken down.
5. (historical) The smallest medieval unit of time, equal to fifteen ninety-fourths of a second. [from 10th c.]
6. A mote of dust in a sunbeam. [from 16th c.]
7. A very small amount; a whit. [from 17th c.]

   Synonyms: particle, speck; see also Thesaurus:modicum
8. (programming, Lisp) An individual number or symbol, as opposed to a list; a scalar value. [from 20th c.]
9. (programming, Microsoft Windows) An integer representing a particular string.

   Coordinate term: quark

10. (mathematics) A non-zero member of a partially ordered set that has only zero below it (assuming that the poset has a least element, its "zero"). [from 20th c.]

    Antonym: coatom

11. (mathematics, set theory) An element of a set that is not itself a set; an urelement. [from 20th c.]
12. (Canada, usually attributive) An age group division in hockey for nine- to eleven-year-olds.

Derived terms

Related terms

• atomgrad

Descendants

• → Swahili: atomi

Translations

See also

• ⚛
• chemical element

Further reading

• atom on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• mota, TMAO, toma, Mato, Amto, moat, Mota, Moat, atmo

Albanian

Noun

atom m (definite atomi)

1. (physics, chemistry) atom

Declension

Further reading

• “atom”, in FGJSH: Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe [Dictionary of the Albanian language] (in Albanian), 2006
• FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language]‎^[3], 1980

Breton

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.tɔmː/

Noun

atom m (collective, plural atomennoù, singulative atomenn)

1. (physics) atoms

Derived terms

• atomek

Crimean Tatar

Etymology

From English atom

Noun

atom

1. (physics) atom

Declension

References

• “atom”, in Luğatçıq (in Russian)

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈatom]

Noun

atom m inan

1. (physics) atom

Declension

Related terms

Further reading

• “atom”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “atom”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Danish

Etymology

Via German Atom n and Latin atomus f from Ancient Greek ἄτομοι (φύσεις) f (átomoi (phúseis)), ἄτομα (σώματα) n (átoma (sṓmata), “indivisible particles of matter”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aˈtˢoˀm]

Noun

atom n (singular definite atomet, plural indefinite atomer)

1. atom

Declension

References

• “atom” in Den Danske Ordbog

Hungarian

Etymology

From English atom, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos, “indivisible”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + τέμνω (témnō, “I cut”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒtom]
• Hyphenation: atom
• Rhymes: -om

Noun

atom (plural atomok)

1. atom

Declension

Derived terms

References

Further reading

• atom in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
• atom in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024).

Indonesian

Etymology

Internationalism, borrowed from Dutch atoom (“atom”), from French atome, from Latin atomus, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈatɔm/
• Rhymes: -tɔm, -ɔm, -m
• Hyphenation: a‧tom

Noun

atom (plural atom-atom)

1. (chemistry, nuclear physics) atom, the smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons
2. (figurative) modern

   Synonyms: modern, mutakhir

3. (figurative) plastic, a synthetic, solid, hydrocarbon-based polymer, whether thermoplastic or thermosetting

   Synonym: plastik

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• “atom” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Kashubian

Etymology

Internationalism; possibly borrowed from German Atom or Polish atom, ultimately from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos, “indivisible”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.tɔm/
• Rhymes: -atɔm
• Syllabification: a‧tom

Noun

atom m inan (related adjective atomowi)

1. (physics) atom

Further reading

• Jan Trepczyk (1994) “atom”, in Słownik polsko-kaszubski (in Kashubian), volumes 1–2
• Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011) “atom”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi‎^[4]
• “atom”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022

Malay

Etymology

From English atom, from Old French atome, from Latin atomus, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /atom/
• Rhymes: -atom, -tom, -om

Noun

atom (Jawi spelling اتوم, plural atom-atom)

1. (physics) atom (physics: smallest possible amount of matter retaining its chemical properties)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos, “indivisible, uncut, undivided”), both from ἀ- (a-, “not, without”), from Proto-Hellenic *ə- (“un-, not; without, lacking”), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- (“not, un-”) + and from τέμνω (témnō, “I cut, hew, wound, butcher”), from Proto-Indo-European *tm̥-n-h₁-, from *temh₁- (“to cut”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈtuːm/
• Rhymes: -uːm
• Hyphenation: at‧om
• Homophone: atom-

Noun

atom n (definite singular atomet, indefinite plural atom or atomer, definite plural atoma or atomene)

1. (chemistry, physics) an atom (the smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons)
2. (figuratively) an atom (the smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something)

   Synonyms: grann, partikkel, smule

Derived terms

Related terms

• atom- (prefix)

References

• “atom” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “atom” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
• “atom” in Store norske leksikon
• “atom (historikk)” in Store norske leksikon
• “atom (atomteori)” in Store norske leksikon

Anagrams

• atom-, mota

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

Noun

atom n (definite singular atomet, indefinite plural atom, definite plural atoma)

1. an atom

Derived terms

• atommasse
• atomvekt

Related terms

• atom- (prefix)

References

• “atom” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Irish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin atomus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈadoβ̃]

Noun

atom m

1. atom, mote

Inflection

Descendants

• Middle Irish: atam
  • Irish: adamh

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from French atome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.tɔm/
• Rhymes: -atɔm
• Syllabification: a‧tom

Noun

atom m inan (related adjective atomowy)

1. (physics) atom [with genitive ‘of what’]
2. nuclear device (something that operates thanks to nuclear energy)

Declension

Derived terms

Derived terms

References

Further reading

• atom in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• atom in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French atome, from Latin atomus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈtom/

Noun

atom m (plural atomi)

1. atom

Declension

Further reading

• “atom”, in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language) (in Romanian), 2004–2025

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ǎtoːm/
• Hyphenation: a‧tom

Noun

àtōm m (Cyrillic spelling а̀то̄м)

1. atom

Declension

References

• “atom”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2025

Swedish

Noun

atom c

1. atom; the smallest particle to retain the properties of the element
2. (historical) atom; the theoretically smallest possible particle

Declension

Related terms

See also

References

• atom in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• atom in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• atom in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

Turkish

Etymology

Borrowed from French atome.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɑˈtɔm]

Noun

atom (definite accusative atomu, plural atomlar)

1. (physics) atom
2. a kind of sugary drink common in and around Mersin province

Declension

Derived terms

• atom bombası

Related terms

• atomik

References

• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “atom”, in Nişanyan Sözlük

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈatɔm/

Etymology 1

Noun

atom m or f (plural atomau)

1. atom

Derived terms

• (nonstandard) atomfa (“nuclear power station”)

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• aton

Pronoun

atom

1. (literary) first-person plural of at