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Definition of atom noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

atom

noun
 
/ˈætəm/
 
/ˈætəm/
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  1. the smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist
    • the splitting of the atom
    • Two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to form a molecule of water.
    • The scientist Ernest Rutherford was the first person to split the atom.
    • positively charged atoms
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    Topics Physics and chemistryb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • charged
    • unstable
    • carbon
    • …
    verb + atom
    • split
    atom + noun
    • bomb
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 15th cent.: from Old French atome, via Latin from Greek atomos ‘indivisible’, based on a- ‘not’ + temnein ‘to cut’.
See atom in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee atom in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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