atomic

[ uh-tom-ik ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, resulting from, or using atoms, atomic energy, or atomic bombs:

   an atomic explosion.

2. propelled or driven by atomic energy:

   an atomic submarine.

3. Chemistry. existing as free, uncombined atoms.
4. extremely minute.

atomic

/ əˈtɒmɪk /

adjective

1. of, using, or characterized by atomic bombs or atomic energy

   atomic warfare

2. of, related to, or comprising atoms

   atomic hydrogen

3. extremely small; minute
4. logic (of a sentence, formula, etc) having no internal structure at the appropriate level of analysis. In predicate calculus, Fa is an atomic sentence and Fx an atomic predicate

atomic

/ ə-tŏm′ĭk /

1. Relating to an atom or to atoms.
2. Employing nuclear energy.

Derived Forms

• aˈtomically, adverb

Other Words From

• a·tomi·cal·ly adverb
• nona·tomic adjective
• nona·tomi·cal adjective
• nona·tomi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of atomic¹

First recorded in 1670–80; atom + -ic

Example Sentences

Many types of qubits are made from bits of metal or other material deposited on a surface, resulting in slight differences between qubits on an atomic level.

From Science News

At this atomic level, the mechanics of quantum physics also come into play, with some seriously intriguing results.

From Singularity Hub 

Part of that comes from the need to closely examine every relevant molecule, studying its chemical composition and interactions as well as its physical structure at the atomic level.

From TechCrunch

Instead, these market forces create opportunities for publishers to innovate by investing in owning the relationship with their users and looking to tap the “atomic” power unleashed when splitting first-party audience data from onsite inventory.

From Digiday

In 1911, at the University of Manchester in England, he deduced the existence of the atomic nucleus in analyzing results of experiments by his assistants Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden.

From Science News

Following this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, the way to achieve world peace is to give everyone atomic bombs.

From The Daily Beast

Transcripts from hearings held by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954 have recently been declassified and studied by scholars.

From The Daily Beast

Producing one H-bomb would have diverted enough resources to produce 80 atomic warheads.

From The Daily Beast

In 1957 the U.S. Army first fielded artillery able to fire shells with atomic warheads.

From The Daily Beast

One of these critics was William Borden, executive director of the congressional joint committee on atomic energy.

From The Daily Beast

We only know that under certain conditions the old atomic associations break up, and new ones are formed.

From Project Gutenberg

You have atomic weapons you intend using against your enemy—against the Eastern Empire?

From Project Gutenberg

Factories a long way under ground, behind the Soviet lines, factories that had once made atomic projectiles, now almost forgotten.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the author tells us of the atomic hypothesis of the formation of the Great World.

From Project Gutenberg

Obviously this electric time impulsor is a machine in the nature of an atomic integrator.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• microscopic