atom

See also: Atom, атом, atóm, àtom, atom-, and atoḿ

English

WOTD – 23 October 2016

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, “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.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈætəm/
    • (General American) IPA(key): [ˈæɾm̩], [ˈæɾəm]
    • Audio (General American):(file)
    • Audio (Australia):(file)
    • 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
      • 2013 September–October, Katie L. Burke, “In the news: Photosynthesis precursor”, in American Scientist‎[1], archived from the original on 13 April 2016:
        Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the water-oxidizing complex, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.
    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.]
      • 1835, John Ross, James Clark Ross, “Chapter XXXIV. Labour in Cutting through the Ice—Become Fixed for the Winter—Summary of the Month.”, in Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions, during the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833; by Sir John Ross, C.B., K.S.A., K.C.S., &c. &c. Captain in the Royal Navy. Including the Reports of Commander (now Captain) J. C. Ross, R.N., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. and the Discovery of the Northern Magnetic Pole, Philadelphia, Pa.: E. A. Carey & A. Hart; Baltimore, Md.: Carey, Hart & Co., →OCLC, pages 283–284:
        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.
      • 1863 March 28 – December 26, Charles Reade, Hard Cash: A Matter-of-fact Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston […], published 1863, →OCLC:
        But at this critical moment the pirate astern sent a mischievous shot and knocked one of the men to atoms at the helm.
    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
      • 1873, “Pansy” [pseudonym; Isabella Macdonald Alden], “A Double Crisis”, in Three People, Cincinnati, Oh.: Western Tract and Book Society, 176 Elm Street, →OCLC, page 325:
        "Doctor, tell me one word more," said Theodore, quivering with suppressed emotion. "How do you think it will end?" / "I have hardly the faintest atom of hope," answered this honest, earnest man.
      • 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter I, in Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC, page 8:
        We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.
    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
      In a Venn diagram, an atom is depicted as an area circumscribed by lines but not cut by any line.
    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

    Descendants

    • → Swahili: atomi

    Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

    See also

    Further reading

    Anagrams

    Albanian

    Noun

    atom m (definite atomi)

    1. (physics, chemistry) atom

    Declension

    Declension of atom
    singular plural
    indefinite definite indefinite definite
    nominative atom atomi atome atomet
    accusative atomin
    dative atomi atomit atomeve atomeve
    ablative atomesh

    Further reading

    • Jani Thomai et al. (2006), “atom”, in FGJSH: Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe [Dictionary of the Albanian language] (in Albanian), Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë
    • FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language]‎[2], 1980

    Breton

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈa.tɔmː/

    Noun

    atom m (collective, plural atomennoù, singulative atomenn)

    1. (physics) atoms

    Derived terms

    Cornish

    Etymology

    Borrowed from English atom

    Noun

    atom m (plural atomow)

    1. atom

    Derived terms

    • atomek (“atomic”)
    • atomva f (“nuclear power station”)

    References

    “atom” in Cornish Dictionary / Gerlyver Kernewek, Akademi Kernewek.

    Crimean Tatar

    Etymology

    From English atom

    Noun

    atom

    1. (physics) atom

    Declension

    Declension of atom
    singular plural
    nominative atom atomlar
    genitive atomnıñ atomlarnıñ
    dative atomğa atomlarğa
    accusative atomnı atomlarnı
    locative atomda atomlarda
    ablative atomdan atomlardan

    References

    Czech

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): [ˈatom]

    Noun

    atom m inan

    1. (physics) atom

    Declension

    Further reading

    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

    Declension of atom
    neuter
    gender
    singular plural
    indefinite definite indefinite definite
    nominative atom atomet atomer atomerne
    genitive atoms atomets atomers atomernes

    References

    Hungarian

    Etymology

    From English atom, from Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos, “indivisible”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).[1]

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): [ˈɒtom]
    • Rhymes: -om
    • Hyphenation: atom
    • Syllabification: a‧tom

    Noun

    atom (plural atomok)

    1. (chemistry, physics) atom
    2. (figuratively) atom (a very small amount)
    3. (colloquial, after 1945) atom bomb, nuclear weapon
      Synonyms: atombomba, atomfegyver

    Declension

    Inflection (stem in -o-, back harmony)
    singular plural
    nominative atom atomok
    accusative atomot atomokat
    dative atomnak atomoknak
    instrumental atommal atomokkal
    causal-final atomért atomokért
    translative atommá atomokká
    terminative atomig atomokig
    essive-formal atomként atomokként
    essive-modal — —
    inessive atomban atomokban
    superessive atomon atomokon
    adessive atomnál atomoknál
    illative atomba atomokba
    sublative atomra atomokra
    allative atomhoz atomokhoz
    elative atomból atomokból
    delative atomról atomokról
    ablative atomtól atomoktól
    non-attributive
    possessive – singular
    atomé atomoké
    non-attributive
    possessive – plural
    atoméi atomokéi
    Possessive forms of atom
    possessor single possession multiple possessions
    1st person sing. atomom atomjaim
    2nd person sing. atomod atomjaid
    3rd person sing. atomja atomjai
    1st person plural atomunk atomjaink
    2nd person plural atomotok atomjaitok
    3rd person plural atomjuk atomjaik

    Derived terms

    Compound words

    References

    1. ^ István Tótfalusi (2005), Idegenszó-tár: Idegen szavak értelmező és etimológiai szótára [A Storehouse of Foreign Words: An Explanatory and Etymological Dictionary of Foreign Words], Budapest: Tinta, →ISBN

    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 2026).

    Indonesian

    Etymology

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

    Pronunciation

    • (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /ˈatom/ [ˈa.t̪ɔm]
    • Audio:(file)
    • Rhymes: -atom
    • Syllabification: 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

    • mengatomkan
    • pengatoman
    • seatom
    • atom berat
    • atom bertanda
    • atom C
    • atom karbon

    Further reading

    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[3]
    • “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, “to cut, hew, wound, butcher”), from Proto-Indo-European *tm̥-n-h₁-, from *temh₁- (“to cut”).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /aˈtuːm/
    • Audio:(file)
    • 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)
      et atom består av en atomkjerne omgitt av elektroner
      an atom consists of an atomic nucleus surrounded by electrons
      • 1943, Carl Fred. Holmboe, Michael Faraday, page 94:
        tinnklorid … består av et atom tinn og to atomer klor
        tin chloride… consists of one atom of tin and two atoms chlorine tin chloride… consists of one atom of tin and two atoms of chlorine
      • 1943, Carl Fred. Holmboe, Michael Faraday, page 164:
        man var nådd frem til dets minste byggesten. Denne kalte Demokritos et atom: ἄτομος som betyr udelelig
        one had reached its smallest building block. This one called Democritus an atom: ἄτομος which means indivisible
      • 1951, Agnar Mykle, Morgen i appelsingult, page 42:
        det var nok atomene [som har forårsaket katastrofen] likevel, som jeg trodde!
        it was probably the atoms [that caused the disaster] anyway, as I thought!
      • 2014, Nasjonal digital læringsarena‎[ndla.no]:
        for å forstå hvordan stoffer reagerer med hverandre, og hvorfor de ulike stoffene har forskjellige egenskaper, må vi først lære om de minste byggesteinene i naturen, nemlig atomer
        to understand how substances react with each other, and why the different substances have different properties, we must first learn about the smallest building blocks in nature, namely atoms
    2. (figuratively) an atom (the smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something)
      Synonyms: grann, partikkel, smule
      • 1865, H. Schulze, Fra Lofoten og Solør, page 87:
        [stokken] maatte styrte udover ham og knuse ham til atomer
        [the stick] had to crash over him and crush him into atoms
      • 1891, Arne Garborg, Trætte Mænd, page 230:
        i samvittighedsnaget en draabe smigret forfængelighed – Og i forfængeligheden et atom selvforagt
        in the gnaw of conscience a drop of flattered vanity - And in vanity an atom of self-loathing
      • 1910, Sven Elvestad, Angsten, page 29:
        i et lidet atom af tid synes han fremdeles han er et andet og fjernt sted
        in a small atom of time he still thinks he is another and distant place

    Derived terms

    • antiatom
    • atom-
    • atomaktivist
    • atomalder
    • atomammunisjon
    • atomangrep
    • atomanlegg
    • atomar
    • atomartilleri
    • atomaske
    • atomavfall
    • atomavrustning
    • atomavtale
    • atombase
    • atombedrift
    • atombombe
    • atombombefly
    • atombombeforsøk
    • atombombemål
    • atombombeprøve
    • atombombestøv
    • atombrennstoff
    • atombrensel
    • atombryter
    • atombyrå
    • atombåt
    • atomdiplomat
    • atomdiplomati
    • atomdrevet
    • atomdrift
    • atomdrivstoff
    • atomekspert
    • atomeksplosjon
    • atomenergi
    • atomfly
    • atomforsker
    • atomforskning
    • atomforsvar
    • atomfred
    • atomfri
    • atomfrykt
    • atomfysiker
    • atomfysikk
    • atomgitter
    • atomgranat
    • atomhemmelighet
    • atomhode
    • atomild
    • atomindustri
    • atomingeniør
    • atominstitutt
    • atomisere
    • atomisk
    • atomisme
    • atomistisk
    • atomisør
    • atomkampanje
    • atomkanon
    • atomkappløp
    • atomkirkegård
    • atomkjerne
    • atomklokke
    • atomklubb
    • atomkonferanse
    • atomkontroll
    • atomkraft
    • atomkraftverk
    • atomkrig
    • atomladet
    • atomladning
    • atommakt
    • atommarsj
    • atommasse
    • atommasseenhet
    • atommile
    • atommodell
    • atommotor
    • atommylder
    • atommyndighet
    • atommål
    • atomnasjon
    • atomnedfall
    • atomnedruste
    • atomnedrustning
    • atomnummer
    • atomopprustning
    • atomorbital
    • atomparaply
    • atompolitikk
    • atomproduksjon
    • atomprosjekt
    • atomprosjektil
    • atomprotest
    • atomprotestant
    • atomprøve
    • atomsibryter
    • atomspaltning
    • atomvekt
    • atomvæpnet
    • atomær
    • donoratom
    • fremmedatom
    • gramatom
    • heteroatom
    • hydrogenatom
    • oksygenatom
    • sentralatom
    • strålingsatom
    • uranatom

    References

    Anagrams

    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

    References

    Old Irish

    Etymology

    Borrowed from Latin atomus.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈa.d̪uβ̃/
      • (McCone 1996) [ˈa.d̪uβ̃]
      • (Griffith 2016) [ˈa.d̪øβ̃]

    Noun

    atom m

    1. atom, mote

    Inflection

    Masculine o-stem
    singular dual plural
    nominative atom atomL atoimL
    vocative atoim atomL atomuH
    accusative atomN atomL atomuH
    genitive atoimL atom atomN
    dative atomL atomaib atomaib
    Initial mutations of a following adjective:
    • H = triggers aspiration
    • L = triggers lenition
    • N = triggers nasalization

    Descendants

    Polish

    Etymology

      Borrowed from French atome.[1]

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /ˈa.tɔm/
      • Audio:(file)
      • 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

      Declension of atom
      singular plural
      nominative atom atomy
      genitive atomu atomów
      dative atomowi atomom
      accusative atom atomy
      instrumental atomem atomami
      locative atomie atomach
      vocative atomie atomy

      Derived terms

      Derived terms

      verbs

      References

      1. ^ Mirosław Bańko; Lidia Wiśniakowska (2021), “atom”, in Wielki słownik wyrazów obcych, →ISBN

      Further reading

      • “atom”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[4] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
      • “atom”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[5] (in Polish)

      Romanian

      Etymology

      Borrowed from French atome, from Latin atomus.

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /aˈtom/

      Noun

      atom m (plural atomi)

      1. atom

      Declension

      singular plural
      indefinite definite indefinite definite
      nominative-accusative atom atomul atomi atomii
      genitive-dative atom atomului atomi atomilor
      vocative atomule atomilor

      Further reading

      Serbo-Croatian

      Etymology

      From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

      Pronunciation

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

      Noun

      àtōm m inan (Cyrillic spelling а̀то̄м)

      1. atom

      Declension

      Declension of atom
      singular plural
      nominative àtōm atomi
      genitive atóma atoma
      dative atomu atomima
      accusative atom atome
      vocative atome atomi
      locative atomu atomima
      instrumental atomom atomima

      References

      • “atom”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

      Slovene

      Etymology

      From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos), through German Atom and French atome.

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /atóːm/

      Noun

      atọ̑m m inan

      1. atom

      Declension

      Unknown tone or non-tonal
      The diacritics used in this section of the entry are non-tonal. If you are a native tonal speaker, please help by adding the tonal marks.
      Masculine inan., hard o-stem
      nom. sing. atóm
      gen. sing. atóma
      singular dual plural
      nominative
      (imenovȃlnik)
      atóm atóma atómi
      genitive
      (rodȋlnik)
      atóma atómov atómov
      dative
      (dajȃlnik)
      atómu atómoma atómom
      accusative
      (tožȋlnik)
      atóm atóma atóme
      locative
      (mẹ̑stnik)
      atómu atómih atómih
      instrumental
      (orọ̑dnik)
      atómom atómoma atómi

      Derived terms

      References

      • “atom”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU, portal Fran
      • “atom”, in Termania, Amebis
      • See also the general references

      Swedish

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /atoːm/

      Noun

      atom c

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

      Declension

      See also

      References

      Turkish

      Etymology

        Borrowed from French atome.

        Pronunciation

        • IPA(key): [ɑˈtɔm]
        • Audio:(file)

        Noun

        atom (definite accusative atomu, plural atomlar)

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

        Declension

        Declension of atom
        singular plural
        nominative atom atomlar
        definite accusative atomu atomları
        dative atoma atomlara
        locative atomda atomlarda
        ablative atomdan atomlardan
        genitive atomun atomların
        Possessive forms
        nominative
        singular plural
        1st singular atomum atomlarım
        2nd singular atomun atomların
        3rd singular atomu atomları
        1st plural atomumuz atomlarımız
        2nd plural atomunuz atomlarınız
        3rd plural atomları atomları
        definite accusative
        singular plural
        1st singular atomumu atomlarımı
        2nd singular atomunu atomlarını
        3rd singular atomunu atomlarını
        1st plural atomumuzu atomlarımızı
        2nd plural atomunuzu atomlarınızı
        3rd plural atomlarını atomlarını
        dative
        singular plural
        1st singular atomuma atomlarıma
        2nd singular atomuna atomlarına
        3rd singular atomuna atomlarına
        1st plural atomumuza atomlarımıza
        2nd plural atomunuza atomlarınıza
        3rd plural atomlarına atomlarına
        locative
        singular plural
        1st singular atomumda atomlarımda
        2nd singular atomunda atomlarında
        3rd singular atomunda atomlarında
        1st plural atomumuzda atomlarımızda
        2nd plural atomunuzda atomlarınızda
        3rd plural atomlarında atomlarında
        ablative
        singular plural
        1st singular atomumdan atomlarımdan
        2nd singular atomundan atomlarından
        3rd singular atomundan atomlarından
        1st plural atomumuzdan atomlarımızdan
        2nd plural atomunuzdan atomlarınızdan
        3rd plural atomlarından atomlarından
        genitive
        singular plural
        1st singular atomumun atomlarımın
        2nd singular atomunun atomlarının
        3rd singular atomunun atomlarının
        1st plural atomumuzun atomlarımızın
        2nd plural atomunuzun atomlarınızın
        3rd plural atomlarının atomlarının

        Derived terms

        References

        Welsh

        Pronunciation

        • IPA(key): /ˈatɔm/

        Etymology 1

        Noun

        atom m or f (plural atomau)

        1. atom
        Derived terms
        • (nonstandard) atomfa (“nuclear power station”)
        • atomig, atomaidd (“atomic”)

        Etymology 2

        Alternative forms

        Pronoun

        atom

        1. (literary) first-person plural of at

        Further reading

        • Griffiths, Bruce; Glyn Jones, Dafydd (1995), “atom”, in Geiriadur yr Academi: The Welsh Academy English–Welsh Dictionary‎[6], Cardiff: University of Wales Press, →ISBN
        • D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “atom”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
        • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “atom”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies