atomic
/əˈtɒmɪk
/adjective
1Relating to an atom or atoms: the nature of matter at the atomic level the atomic nucleus...
- Its output of particles (electrons, protons, ions and atomic nuclei) is approximately one million tonnes per second.
- Later, Rutherford also discovered the atomic nucleus and the proton.
- Because of its weak interaction with atomic nuclei, the neutrino travels freely through any material object and is very difficult to observe.
1.1 Chemistry (Of a substance) consisting of uncombined atoms rather than molecules: atomic hydrogen...
- The team has used gases such as ethanol to prevent oxidation and atomic oxygen or hydrogen to remove contamination and provide in-situ cleaning.
- At that temperature, the gas has enough energy to excite molecular hydrogen but not atomic hydrogen.
- It consists of atomic and molecular hydrogen, with 10 per cent of helium.
1.2Of or forming a single irreducible unit or component in a larger system: a society made up of atomic individuals pursuing private interests...
- Iin this case it uses the atomic unit of digital life - a single screen of data on a Palm, a little brick of reality we spend so much time staring at all day long.
- From a philosophical point of view, one has to ask whether modeling growth using atomic units (modules or cells) makes sense at all.
- The triangle is a kind of atomic unit in geometry.
1.3Relating to or using the energy released in nuclear fission or fusion: the atomic age required a new way of political thinking atomic weapons...
- It is precisely those features which are undesirable in a nuclear reactor that are vital in an atomic weapon.
- Just as nuclear scientists concerned about lethal radioactivity oppose atomic weapons, should marine scientists campaign for an end to coal-fired power stations?
- The centrality of atomic fission and fusion is giving way to the collection, processing, fusion, and dissemination of information.
Derivatives
atomically
- It is atomically flat, hydrophilic, and, in water, negatively charged.
- ‘If we use substrate-mediated interactions to direct the arrangement of monomers prior to chemical bonding, we may be able to build atomically precise structures,’ says Weiss.
- The researchers use a technique called nanoscale electro-machining (nano-EM) to etch nanopores as small as 8-10 nanometers in diameter on an atomically flat gold surface.
Origin
Late 17th century: from modern Latin atomicus, from atomus 'indivisible' (see atom).