atomize
/ˈætəmaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈætəmaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-tə-ˌmīz/ (ame, mw)
atomize — verb
- atomizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- atomizeshe / she / it
- atomizedpast simple
- atomizing-ing form
1. to force a liquid through a very small opening so that it becomes a cloud of tin
to force a liquid through a very small opening so that it becomes a cloud of tiny drops, like spray or mist.
Haruto uses a special bottle to atomize his homemade perfume into a fine mist.
atomize his homemade perfume into a fine mist
The cleaning solution atomizes as it leaves the nozzle and spreads across the window.
solution atomizes as it leaves the nozzle
Water atomizes easily when pushed through the narrow gap of a spray gun.
Zara filled the spray bottle with lavender oil and atomized it over her pillow.
The machine atomizes the paint before it lands on the car body in an even coat.
- coalesce
small drops join together into larger ones, the opposite physical process
文法句型
atomize + noun phrase (liquid/water/perfume)
noun phrase + atomizes (intransitive — of a liquid)
用法筆記
Frequently passive in industrial contexts. The object is usually a liquid (water, perfume, paint, oil). The preposition into introduces the result (mist, spray, cloud).
常見錯誤
2. to separate a group, system, or structure into many small pieces or units, often
to separate a group, system, or structure into many small pieces or units, often in a way that makes it weaker or harder to manage.
The large department was atomized into six smaller teams with separate budgets.
department was atomized into six smaller teams
Fernando argued that the new policy would atomize the community and reduce its political influence.
Online platforms often atomize audiences into millions of isolated individual viewers.
The political party began to atomize after losing its strongest leaders in the election.
Years of internal conflict atomized the alliance until no real cooperation remained.
- fragment
more common; 'fragment' can refer to physical breaking, while 'atomize' carries a sense of weakening through excessive division
- splinter
suggests breaking away of parts from a main body, especially in politics
- disintegrate
stronger — implies total loss of structure; 'atomize' leaves pieces but scatter them
- unite
bring parts together into a whole, the opposite of fragmentation
- consolidate
combine into a stronger single unit
文法句型
be atomized + into + noun phrase
atomize + noun phrase (group/power/community)
用法筆記
Subject is typically an organisation, community, system, or audience. The passive form (be atomized into) is especially common. Distinguish from sense 1 (LIQUID sense = physical spray of a liquid; this sense = abstract fragmentation of a group or structure).
常見錯誤
3. to destroy a place completely by dropping bombs or using nuclear weapons on it.
to destroy a place completely by dropping bombs or using nuclear weapons on it.
The air force atomized the rebel base in a single night of heavy bombing.
force atomized the rebel base
Entire neighborhoods were atomized by the bombing campaign during the siege.
neighborhoods were atomized by the bombing
Kwame read about how the bomb could atomize an entire city in seconds.
The general ordered his planes to atomize the enemy supply depot at dawn.
- bomb
general term; 'atomize' implies total destruction, often associated with nuclear weapons
- annihilate
complete destruction of any kind, not limited to bombing
- obliterate
erase all trace; similar intensity to 'atomize' but not necessarily by bombing
文法句型
atomize + noun phrase (city/target/base)
用法筆記
Domain-specific to military contexts. Almost always transitive. The passive is common in historical reports. This sense is much rarer than the other two and may sound dated or literary outside of military writing.