From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_012_batomat‧om /ˈætəm/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 HPthe smallest part of an element that can exist alone or can combine with other substances to form a molecule carbon atomsatom of two atoms of hydrogen2 AMOUNTa very small amount of something – used for emphasisatom of There isn’t an atom of truth in it.
Examples from the Corpus
atom• The valency of an atom in a covalent molecule is the number of electrons shared by the atom in forming the bond.• an atom of truth• In graphite the carbon atoms are arranged in flat hexagons layered on top of each other.• Quarks unite to form protons, neutrons and electrons, which in turn unite to form atoms.• The formula also shows the number of moles of atoms of each element in one mole of molecules.• Talk of probability waves and eigen values does not undermine the reality of atoms and molecules.Origin atom (1500-1600) Latin atomus, from Greek, from atomos “that cannot be divided”, from temnein “to cut” 