Atlas \At"las\, n.; pl. Atlases. [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. ?, ?,
one of the older family of gods, who bears up the pillars of
heaven; also Mt. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar
of heaven. It is from the root of ? to bear. See Tolerate.]
1. One who sustains a great burden.
2. (Anat.) The first vertebra of the neck, articulating
immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of
the head, whence the name.
3. A collection of maps in a volume;
Note: supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas
supporting the world, prefixed to some collections.
This name is said to have been first used by Mercator,
the celebrated geographer, in the 16th century.
4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject.
5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from
or arrangement; as, an historical atlas.
6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; --
called also atlas folio.
7. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n.
Atlas powder, a nitroglycerin blasting compound of pasty
consistency and great explosive power.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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