Atomic philosophy, or Doctrine of atoms, a system which, assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion, accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things. This philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy.Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions(Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole numbers.Atomic weight(Chem.), the weight of the atom of an element as compared with the weight of the atom of hydrogen, taken as a standard.

Atomically
(A*tom"ic*al*ly), adv. In an atomic manner; in accordance with the atomic philosophy.

Atomician
(At`o*mi"cian) n. An atomist. [R.]

Atomicism
(A*tom"i*cism) n. Atomism. [Obs.]

Atomicity
(At`o*mic"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. atomicité.] (Chem.) Degree of atomic attraction; equivalence; valence; also (a later use) the number of atoms in an elementary molecule. See Valence.

Atomism
(At"om*ism) n. [Cf. F. atomisme.] The doctrine of atoms. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.

Atomist
(At"om*ist), n. [Cf. F. atomiste.] One who holds to the atomic philosophy or theory. Locke.

Atmospherology
(At`mos*phe*rol"o*gy) n. [Atmosphere + -logy.] The science or a treatise on the atmosphere.

Atokous
(At"o*kous) a. [Gr. barren; 'a priv. + offspring.] (Zoöl.) Producing only asexual individuals, as the eggs of certain annelids.

Atoll
(A*toll") n. [The native name in the Indian Ocean.] A coral island or islands, consisting of a belt of coral reef, partly submerged, surrounding a central lagoon or depression; a lagoon island.

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.

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.

Atom
(At"om), v. t. To reduce to atoms. [Obs.] Feltham.

Atomic
(A*tom"ic A*tom"ic*al) a. [Cf. F. atomique.]

1. Of or pertaining to atoms.

2. Extremely minute; tiny.


  By PanEris using Melati.

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