molecule

American  

[mol-uh-kyool] / ˈmɒl əˌkyul /

noun

1. Chemistry, Physics.  the smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound.

2. Chemistry.  a quantity of a substance, the weight of which, measured in any chosen unit, is numerically equal to the molecular weight; gram molecule.

3. any very small particle.

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molecule British  

/ ˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl /

noun

1. the simplest unit of a chemical compound that can exist, consisting of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

2. a very small particle

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molecule Scientific  

/ mŏl′ĭ-kyo̅o̅l′ /

1. A group of two or more atoms linked together by sharing electrons in a chemical bond. Molecules are the fundamental components of chemical compounds and are the smallest part of a compound that can participate in a chemical reaction.

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molecule Cultural  

1. A combination of two or more atoms held together by a force between them. (See covalent bond and ionic bond.)

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Other Word Forms

• submolecule noun
• supermolecule noun

Etymology

Origin of molecule

First recorded in 1785–95; earlier molecula, from New Latin, from Latin mōlē(s) “mass” ( molar ² ( def. ) ) + -cula -cule ¹

Compare meaning

How does molecule compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• formula unit vs. molecule

Example Sentences

These molecules were required for weight gain in regular mice.

From Science Daily

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a crucial molecule that helps translate genetic information into proteins.

From Science Daily

This approach showed that removing certain molecules changed how long memories lasted, and each molecule operated on its own timescale.

From Science Daily

"Tripel" beers again stand apart, with bubble dynamics resembling those of simple surfactants, the molecules commonly used to stabilize foams in everyday products.

From Science Daily

Researchers have now identified naturally produced molecules with anti-aging potential that originate within the body itself.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• fragment
• particle