atmosphere
noun
at·mo·sphere ˈat-mə-ˌsfir 
1
a
: the gaseous envelope of a celestial body (such as a planet)
b
: the whole mass of air surrounding the earth
2
: the air of a locality
the stuffy atmosphere of the waiting room
3
: a surrounding influence or environment
an atmosphere of hostility
4
: a unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level or approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch (101,325 pascals)
5
a
: the overall aesthetic effect of a work of art
b
: an intriguing or singular tone, effect, or appeal
an inn with atmosphere
atmosphered
ˈat-mə-ˌsfird
adjective 
Synonyms
- air
- ambience
- ambiance
- aroma
- aura
- climate
- flavor
- halo
- karma
- mood
- nimbus
- note
- odor
- patina
- smell
- temper
- vibration(s)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Experts have noticed changes in the atmosphere. Meteoroids burn up as they pass through Earth's atmosphere. The planets have different atmospheres. a country inn with lots of atmosphere The food was good but the restaurant has no atmosphere.
Recent Examples on the Web Instead of an atmosphere, Mercury has a thin exposure made of atoms that use solar wind and strike meteoroids to blast off the surface, NASA writes. 
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 And the wetlands beavers create may have the extra benefit of stashing carbon out of the atmosphere. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 The two solid rocket boosters and core stage are filled with 733,000 gallons of propellant, which will push the Orion orbiter out of the atmosphere and into orbit. Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022 During radio occultation, radio waves bend against denser regions of the atmosphere, revealing information about temperature, humidity and pressure. Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Traveling 32 times faster than the speed of sound, the spacecraft will dip into the top layers of the atmosphere, shed some of that speed and skip like a rock back into space. Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2022 But human influence is affecting the dynamics of weather systems, the periodicity of the jet stream and the moisture-holding capacity of the atmosphere. Matthew Cappucci, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Aug. 2022 PWATs, or precipitable water indexes — a measure of how much moisture is present in a column of air from the bottom to the top of the atmosphere — are approaching a remarkable three inches. Zach Rosenthal, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, carbon removal—sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere—has not been proven on any mass scale. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 And the wetlands beavers create may have the extra benefit of stashing carbon out of the atmosphere. The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 The two solid rocket boosters and core stage are filled with 733,000 gallons of propellant, which will push the Orion orbiter out of the atmosphere and into orbit. Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022 During radio occultation, radio waves bend against denser regions of the atmosphere, revealing information about temperature, humidity and pressure. Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 Traveling 32 times faster than the speed of sound, the spacecraft will dip into the top layers of the atmosphere, shed some of that speed and skip like a rock back into space. Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2022 But human influence is affecting the dynamics of weather systems, the periodicity of the jet stream and the moisture-holding capacity of the atmosphere. Matthew Cappucci, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Aug. 2022 PWATs, or precipitable water indexes — a measure of how much moisture is present in a column of air from the bottom to the top of the atmosphere — are approaching a remarkable three inches. Zach Rosenthal, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, carbon removal—sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere—has not been proven on any mass scale. Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
earlier in Latinate form atmo-sphæra, from Greek atmós "steam, vapor" (probably contracted from aetmós, of uncertain origin) + -o- -o- + Latin sphaera sphere entry 1
Note: The word atmo-sphæra was apparently introduced by the English clergyman and natural philosopher John Wilkins (1614-72) in The Discovery of a World in the Moone (London, 1638), p. 138: "Proposition 10. That there is an Atmo-sphæra, or an orbe of grosse vaporous aire, immediately encompassing the body of the Moone."
First Known Use
1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing atmosphere
Kids Definition
atmosphere
noun
at·mo·sphere ˈat-mə-ˌsfir
1
: the whole mass of air that surrounds the earth
2
: the gas surrounding a heavenly body (as a planet)
The atmosphere of Mars is made up mostly of carbon dioxide.
3
: the air in a particular place
4
: a surrounding influence or set of conditions
an atmosphere of excitement
Medical Definition
atmosphere
noun
at·mo·sphere ˈat-mə-ˌsfi(ə)r
1
: the whole mass of air surrounding the earth
2
: the air of a locality
3
: a unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level or to 101,325 pascals or to approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch
atmosphered
adjective
as in ventilated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ventilated
- vented
- airy
- breezy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stuffy
- close
- breathless
- suffocating
- unventilated
- stifling
- out of the frying pan into the fire
- out of the goodness of one's heart
- out of the kindness of one's heart
- out of the loop
- out of the ordinary
- out of the park
- out of the picture
- out of the question
- out of the reach of
- out of the running
- out of the way
- out of the woods
- out of thin air
- out of this world
- out of touch
- out of true
- out of tune
- out of turn
- out of wedlock
- out of whack
- out of whole cloth
- out of work
- out on a limb
- out on one's ear
- out sick