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From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Atom, атом, atóm, àtom, atom-, and atoḿ
Languages (21)
English
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English

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WOTD – 23 October 2016

Alternative forms

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BERJAYA
A stylized representation of a lithium atom based on the Rutherford model

Etymology

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    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

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    Noun

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    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, Charles Reade, Hard Cash‎[2]:
        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

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    Descendants

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    • → Swahili: atomi

    Translations

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

    See also

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    Further reading

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    Anagrams

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    Albanian

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    Albanian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia sq

    Noun

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    atom m (definite atomi)

    1. (physics, chemistry) atom

    Declension

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    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

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    • “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

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    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    atom m (collective, plural atomennoù, singulative atomenn)

    1. (physics) atoms

    Derived terms

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    Cornish

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    Etymology

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    Borrowed from English atom

    Noun

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    atom m (plural atomow)

    1. atom

    Derived terms

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

    References

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

    Crimean Tatar

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    Etymology

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    From English atom

    Noun

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    atom

    1. (physics) atom

    Declension

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

    References

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    Czech

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    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    atom m inan

    1. (physics) atom

    Declension

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    Declension of atom (hard masculine inanimate)
    singular plural
    nominative atom atomy
    genitive atomu atomů
    dative atomu atomům
    accusative atom atomy
    vocative atome atomy
    locative atomu atomech
    instrumental atomem atomy
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    Further reading

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    Danish

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    Etymology

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    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

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    Noun

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    atom n (singular definite atomet, plural indefinite atomer)

    1. atom

    Declension

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

    References

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    Hungarian

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    Etymology

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

    Pronunciation

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

    Noun

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    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

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    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

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    Compound words

    References

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    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

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    • 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

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    Indonesian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia id

    Etymology

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

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    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

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    Further reading

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    Kashubian

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    Etymology

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

    Pronunciation

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

    Noun

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    atom m inan (related adjective atomowi)

    1. (physics) atom

    Further reading

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    • 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

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    Etymology

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

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    atom (Jawi spelling اتوم, plural atom-atom or atom2)

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

    Norwegian Bokmål

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    Norwegian Bokmål Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia nb

    Etymology

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    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

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    Noun

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    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

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    References

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    Anagrams

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    Norwegian Nynorsk

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    Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia nn

    Etymology

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    From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

    Noun

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

    1. an atom

    Derived terms

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    References

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    Old Irish

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    Etymology

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    Borrowed from Latin atomus.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈa.d̪uβ̃/
      • (Blasse) [ˈa.d̪uβ̃]
      • (Griffith) [ˈa.d̪øβ̃]

    Noun

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    atom m

    1. atom, mote

    Inflection

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    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

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    Polish

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    Etymology

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    Etymology tree
    Proto-Indo-European *né
    Proto-Indo-European *n̥-
    Proto-Hellenic *ə-
    Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)
    Proto-Indo-European *temh₁-
    Proto-Indo-European *-né-
    Ancient Greek τέμνω (témnō)
    Proto-Indo-European *-ós
    Proto-Hellenic *-ós
    ▲
    Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ.
    Ancient Greek -ός (-ós)
    Ancient Greek *τομός (*tomós)
    Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos)bor.
    Latin atomusbor.
    Middle French athome
    French atomebor.
    Polish atom

      Borrowed from French atome.[1]

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      atom m inan (related adjective atomowy)

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

      Declension

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      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

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      nouns

      Derived terms

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      adjectives
      adverbs
      verbs

      References

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

      Further reading

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      • “atom”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[5] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
      • “atom”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[6] (in Polish)

      Romanian

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      Etymology

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      Borrowed from French atome, from Latin atomus.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      atom m (plural atomi)

      1. atom

      Declension

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

      Further reading

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      Serbo-Croatian

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      Etymology

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      From Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos).

      Pronunciation

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

      Noun

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      àtōm m inan (Cyrillic spelling а̀то̄м)

      1. atom

      Declension

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      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

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

      Slovene

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      Etymology

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

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      atọ̑m m inan

      1. atom

      Declension

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      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

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      References

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

      Swedish

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      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      atom c

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

      Declension

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      Declension of atom
      nominative genitive
      singular indefinite atom atoms
      definite atomen atomens
      plural indefinite atomer atomers
      definite atomerna atomernas
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      See also

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      References

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      Turkish

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      Etymology

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      Borrowed from French atome.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      atom (definite accusative atomu, plural atomlar)

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

      Declension

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      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

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      References

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      Welsh

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      Pronunciation

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      Etymology 1

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      Noun

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      atom m or f (plural atomau)

      1. atom
      Derived terms
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      • (nonstandard) atomfa (“nuclear power station”)

      Etymology 2

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      Alternative forms

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      Pronoun

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      atom

      1. (literary) first-person plural of at
      Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=atom&oldid=90951434"