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atomic theory
noun
1
: a theory of the nature of matter: all material substances are composed of minute particles or atoms of a comparatively small number of kinds and all the atoms of the same kind are uniform in size, weight, and other properties
2
: any of several theories of the structure of the atom
especially
: one based on experimentation and theoretical considerations holding that the atom is composed essentially of a small positively charged comparatively heavy nucleus surrounded by a comparatively large arrangement of electrons
Examples of atomic theory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most famous text influenced by Democritus is De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), the didactic poem in six books by Titus Lucretius Carus (99 BCE–55 BCE), a poet of the late Roman Republic and a follower of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who had taken up Democritus’s atomic theory.
—Priyamvada Natarajan, The New York Review of Books, 15 June 2021
The sprawling tale begins in ancient Greece, with the origin of atomic theory.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2021
Before atomic theory—which states that all matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms—people didn’t have a good idea of what matter really was.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 24 Feb. 2022
But Rovelli says that the degree of confirmation of atomic theory shouldn’t even be measured in the same units as that of string theory.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2015
String theory is not, say, 10 percent as confirmed as atomic theory; the two have different statuses entirely.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atomic theory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near atomic theory
Cite this Entry
“Atomic theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomic%20theory. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
atomic theory
noun1
: a theory of the nature of matter: all material substances consist of very tiny particles or atoms of not really many kinds and all the atoms of the same kind are uniform in size, weight, and other properties
2
: any of several theories of the structure of the atom
especially
: one saying that the atom consists essentially of a small positively charged heavy nucleus in relation to a large arrangement of electrons that surround the nucleus
Medical Definition
atomic theory
noun1
: a theory of the nature of matter: all material substances are composed of minute particles or atoms of a comparatively small number of kinds and all the atoms of the same kind are uniform in size, weight, and other properties
called also atomic hypothesis
2
: any of several theories of the structure of the atom
especially
: one based on experimentation and theoretical considerations holding that the atom is composed essentially of a small positively charged comparatively heavy nucleus surrounded by a comparatively large arrangement of electrons
More from Merriam-Webster on atomic theory
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about atomic theory
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