Atom \At"om\, n. [L. atomus, Gr. ?, uncut, indivisible; 'a priv.
+ ?, verbal adj. of ? to cut: cf. F. atome. See Tome.]
1. (Physics)
(a) An ultimate indivisible particle of matter.
(b) An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily
indivisible; a molecule.
(c) A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule
supposed to be made up of subordinate particles.
Note: These three definitions correspond to different views
of the nature of the ultimate particles of matter. In
the case of the last two, the particles are more
correctly called molecules. --Dana.
2. (Chem.) The smallest particle of matter that can enter
into combination; one of the elementary constituents of a
molecule.
3. Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit.
There was not an atom of water. --Sir J. Ross.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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