atom
gb/ˈætəm/ us/ˈætəm/
B1
English
~ 2500
atom, nyomnyi mennyiség, csipetnyi, fikarcnyi, szemernyi, szikrányi
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
1
atom
B1
Usage pattern:
an atom of [element]
A water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Egy vízmolekula két hidrogénatomból és egy oxigénatomból áll.
Scientists can split an atom to release energy.
A tudósok fel tudnak hasítani egy atomot, hogy energiát szabadítsanak fel.
Every atom of gold has the same number of protons.
Learner examples
An atom is very small.
Az atom nagyon kicsi.
This is an atom of oxygen.
Ez egy oxigénatom.
Atoms make up all things.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'atom' with 'molecule'. An atom is a single particle of an element; a molecule is two or more atoms joined together.
Meaning
smallest unit of an element
Collocations
split an atom
|hydrogen atom
|carbon atom
|atomic structure
|atom model
Synonyms
particle (A more general term for a small piece of matter, not necessarily a chemical element.)
Antonyms
molecule (A molecule is made of two or more atoms bonded together, so it is larger and more complex.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|physics
Definition
The tiniest part of an element that still has the same properties as that element.
The smallest unit of a chemical element that retains the properties of that element, consisting of a nucleus and electrons.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
not an atom of [something]
There isn’t an atom of truth in his story.
She didn’t have an atom of doubt about his honesty.
He showed not an atom of fear.
Learner examples
There is not an atom of sugar in this tea.
He has not an atom of doubt.
She does not have an atom of fear.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this figuratively; it is more common in formal or literary contexts than in casual speech.
Meaning
a very tiny amount
Collocations
not an atom of truth
|without an atom of doubt
Synonyms
bit (A small amount, but less emphatic than 'atom'.)
Antonyms
lot (A large amount, opposite in quantity.)
Themes
measurement
|figurative
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very, very small amount of something.
An extremely small quantity of something, often used figuratively to emphasize minuteness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
atom
IPA
GB/ˈætəm/
US/ˈætəm/
Syllables & stress
atom (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (atom)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: atom
- Plural: atoms
Word family
Forms
atoms
noun
Core family
atomic
adjective B2
Related words
atomize
verb
atomization
noun
Advanced or less common
subatomic
adjective
atomically
adverb
Expressions
not an atom of truth
1/nˈɑt ən ˈætəm əv tɹˈuθ/
fixed phrase
no truth at all
It means that something is completely false.
Examples
- There is not an atom of truth in those rumors.
- His statement contained not an atom of truth.
split the atom
1/splˈɪt ðə ˈætəm/
fixed phrase
technical
break apart an atomic nucleus
To break the center of an atom to release energy.
Examples
- Nuclear power plants do not literally split the atom in the same way as early experiments did.
- The discovery that you could split the atom changed history.