atom
nounmasculinetécnico/ˈatomu/medium
á·to·mo
Definition
The smallest particle of a chemical element that retains the properties of that element, composed of a nucleus and electrons.
A carbon atom has six protons.
Nuclear fission splits the atom's nucleus.
Common collocations
carbon atomatomic nucleusatomic structureatom model
Idiomatic expressions
- to split the atom (to achieve nuclear fission)
Etymology
Do latim 'atomus', do grego 'átomos' (indivisível).