atom
Syllabification: (at·om)
Pronunciation: /ˈatəm/
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Definition of atom
noun
An atom, roughly 108 cm in diameter, consists of a tiny, dense, positively charged nucleus made of neutrons and protons, surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Each chemical element consists of atoms that possess a characteristic number of protons. Atoms are held together in molecules by sharing electrons
Origin:
late 15th century: from Old French atome, via Latin from Greek atomos 'indivisible', based on a- 'not' + temnein 'to cut'
