Question 1 · Quick check
atom
CEFRA2
/ˈætəm/
noun
Türkçe translations
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In plain English
- 01
noun
The smallest unit of a chemical element.
- 02
noun
Extra detailA hypothetical particle posited by Greek philosophers as an ultimate and indivisible component of matter.
Examples
A water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
He was a member of the team that split the atom in 1932.
At a glance
Sits at A2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- [ˈæɾm̩]
Deep Dive
noun
Extra meaningsThe smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something.
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.
In logical atomism, a fundamental fact that cannot be further broken down.
More examples
In contextThe universe is a gigantic atom and everything is affected by it.
In a Venn diagram, an atom is depicted as an area circumscribed by lines but not cut by any line.
Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
Related
Quick test
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Nearby
Origin
noun
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, “to cut”, o-grade in τομ-) + -ος (-os). Atoms are so named because they were historically thought up as to be the smallest unit of matter, and thus indivisible. Doublet of atomus.