atomic

/əˈtɒmɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈtɑːmɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈtä-mik/ (ame, mw)

atomic — adjective

1. describing the very small particles called atoms, or the way these particles beh

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing the very small particles called atoms, or the way these particles behave, combine, or are studied.

例句

Dr. Hana studies the atomic structure of carbon in her lab.

atomic + structure (collocation in science contexts)

The textbook shows the atomic mass of every element on the periodic table.

atomic mass / atomic number / atomic weight

同義詞
  • subatomic

    narrower — only for parts smaller than a whole atom

  • molecular

    about whole molecules, not single atoms

文法句型

atomic + noun

用法筆記

Almost always sits before a noun (atomic structure, atomic mass, atomic particles). Rarely used after a linking verb such as 'be'.

常見錯誤

❌The structure is atomic.
✅The structure is at the atomic level.
💡'atomic' usually goes before a noun, not after 'be'.

2. powered by, or built to release, the huge energy given off after splitting a sin

2.形容詞B2
釋義

powered by, or built to release, the huge energy given off after splitting a single atom, especially in weapons or power stations.

例句

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima killed tens of thousands of people.

atomic bomb (fixed compound)

France gets most of its electricity from atomic power stations.

atomic power / atomic energy

同義詞
  • nuclear

    the modern, neutral term for the same idea

  • thermonuclear

    stronger — refers to fusion-based bombs

反義詞

文法句型

atomic + noun (bomb / power / weapon / energy)

用法筆記

Mostly fixed compounds: atomic bomb, atomic energy, atomic power, atomic weapon, atomic reactor. In neutral technical writing, 'nuclear' is now more common; 'atomic' often carries Cold-War or weapons overtones.

常見錯誤

❌The lamp uses atomic energy from a battery.
✅The lamp uses electricity from a battery.
💡'atomic energy' means power from splitting atoms, not ordinary electricity.

3. so tiny or basic that it cannot be broken down into smaller parts; used about a

3.形容詞C1
釋義

so tiny or basic that it cannot be broken down into smaller parts; used about a unit of information, work, or matter that must be handled as a single whole.

例句

In computer science, an atomic action either fully finishes or does not happen at all.

atomic action (technical sense, all-or-nothing)

The teacher broke the lesson into atomic steps that small children could follow.

atomic + steps (extended size sense)

同義詞
  • indivisible

    plain word for 'cannot be split'

  • elementary

    the most basic kind, with nothing simpler beneath

  • minute

    stresses extremely small size, not indivisibility

反義詞

文法句型

atomic + noun (unit / piece / level)

用法筆記

Mostly found in technical writing about computing, databases, and physics, where it stresses that a thing cannot be split. Outside those fields it sounds bookish or metaphorical.

常見錯誤

❌Hiro is atomic in size.
✅Hiro is tiny.
💡for ordinary 'small', use 'tiny' or 'minute'; 'atomic' suggests something that cannot be divided further.