World Book 1997 4.0

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<HTML> <HEAD><TITLE>DICTIONARY: at-large - atomic cocktail</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <A HREF="a.dic">A</A> <A HREF="b.dic">B</A> <A HREF="c.dic">C</A> <A HREF="d.dic">D</A> <A HREF="e.dic">E</A> <A HREF="f.dic">F</A> <A HREF="g.dic">G</A> <A HREF="h.dic">H</A> <A HREF="i.dic">I</A> <A HREF="j.dic">J</A> <A HREF="k.dic">K</A> <A HREF="l.dic">L</A> <A HREF="m.dic">M</A> <A HREF="n.dic">N</A> <A HREF="o.dic">O</A> <A HREF="p.dic">P</A> <A HREF="q.dic">Q</A> <A HREF="r.dic">R</A> <A HREF="s.dic">S</A> <A HREF="t.dic">T</A> <A HREF="u.dic">U</A> <A HREF="v.dic">V</A> <A HREF="w.dic">W</A> <A HREF="x.dic">X</A> <A HREF="y.dic">Y</A> <A HREF="z.dic">Z</A> <A NAME="atlarge"> at-large, adjective, adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) <DD>adj. representing the whole of a state or region, not merely one political division of it. Ex. No elector may vote for more than two at-large candidates (Walter A. Gordon). <DD>adv. by the representative or representatives of the whole of a state or region. Ex. Currently all eight of [the State's] seats in the House are filled at-large (Atlanta Constitution). </DL> <A NAME="atlas"> atlas, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. a book of maps. A big atlas has maps of every country. <DD> 2. a book of plates or tables illustrating any subject. Ex. an atlas of human anatomy. <DD> 3. the first cervical vertebra, which supports the skull. <DD> 4. (Especially British.) a large size of paper, 26 X 34 (or, sometimes, 33) inches. <DD> 5. singular of atlantes. </DL> <A NAME="atlas"> Atlas, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. (Greek Mythology.) a giant who supported the heavens on his shoulders. He was said to be a Titan punished for revolt against Zeus. <DD> 2. (Figurative.) a person or thing that sustains the burden of anything; mainstay. </DL> <A NAME="atlascedar"> Atlas cedar,<DL COMPACT><DD> a North African cedar related to the cedar of Lebanon. </DL> <A NAME="atlasmoth"> atlas moth,<DL COMPACT><DD> a large silkworm moth with strongly hooked wings, found in Asia and Australia. </DL> <A NAME="atlatl"> atlatl, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a stick, usually fitted with a thong to hold the butt of a spear, used for throwing spears in pre-Spanish Mexico. </DL> <A NAME="atli"> Atli, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Norse Legend.) a king whose wife, Gudrun killed him for having killed her brothers. </DL> <A NAME="atm"> atm. or atm (no period),<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. atmosphere or atmospheres. <DD> 2. atmospheric. </DL> <A NAME="atm"> ATM (no periods) or A.T.M.,<DL COMPACT><DD> automatic teller machine (an electronic machine that makes change, records deposits, etc.). Ex. Most A.T.M. users are also shoppers ... able to "bank" from 8 in the morning until 10 at night (New York Times). </DL> <A NAME="atman"> atman, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the soul of the individual in Hindu philosophy; the self. </DL> <A NAME="atman"> Atman, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the soul of the universe and source of all individual souls in Hindu philosophy; Brahma. </DL> <A NAME="atmo"> atmo-,<DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) vapor or steam. Ex. Atmology = science of vapor. </DL> <A NAME="atmolysis"> atmolysis, noun, pl. -ses.<DL COMPACT><DD> the separation of mixed gases by partial diffusion through a porous substance. </DL> <A NAME="atmometer"> atmometer, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring evaporation. </DL> <A NAME="atmometric"> atmometric, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with atmometry. </DL> <A NAME="atmometry"> atmometry, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the science of measuring evaporation. </DL> <A NAME="atmosphere"> atmosphere, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. the air that surrounds the earth; the mass of gases that surrounds the earth and is held to it by the force of gravity. <DD> 2. the mass of gases that surrounds, or may surround, any heavenly body. Ex. The atmosphere of Venus is cloudy. <DD> 3. the air in any given place. Ex. Most cities no longer have a clear atmosphere. Our cellar has a damp atmosphere. <DD> 4. (Figurative.) mental or moral surroundings; surrounding influence. Ex. Nuns live in a religious atmosphere. Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom (John Stuart Mill). <DD> 5. (Figurative.) the coloring or feeling that pervades a work of art. Ex. music steeped in the atmosphere of old Vienna, the mysterious atmosphere of "Treasure Island." <DD> 6. (Physics.) a unit of pressure equal to 14.7 pounds per square inch or 1033.2 grams per square centimeter. The pressure exerted by the air on the earth's surface at sea level is about one atmosphere. It is defined as the pressure which will support a column of mercury 760 millimeters high at 0 degrees centigrade (Celsius) at sea level. (Abbr:) atm. adj. atmosphereless. </DL> <A NAME="atmospheric"> atmospheric, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. of or having to do with the atmosphere. Ex. Normal atmospheric pressure on the earth's surface at sea level is 14.7 pounds to the square inch. <DD> 2. in the atmosphere. Ex. Atmospheric conditions often prevent observations of the stars. <DD> 3. caused or produced by the action of the atmosphere. adv. atmospherically. </DL> <A NAME="atmospherical"> atmospherical, adjective. =atmospheric.</DL> <A NAME="atmosphericpressure"> atmospheric pressure,<DL COMPACT><DD> pressure caused by the weight of the air. The normal atmospheric pressure on the earth's surface at sea level is 14.7 pounds per square inch or 1033.2 grams per square centimeter. </DL> <A NAME="atmospherics"> atmospherics, noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> interfering sounds in radio communication caused by electric disturbance of the atmosphere; static. Ex. Today it is an accepted fact that "atmospherics" are produced also by a radiation which comes to us direct from the centre of the Galaxy (Gabriele Rabal). </DL> <A NAME="atmospherictides"> atmospheric tides,<DL COMPACT><DD> movement of atmospheric masses in a pattern somewhat resembling that of the tides, caused by temperature fluctuations and by gravitation. </DL> <A NAME="atmospherium"> atmospherium, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a room or building with apparatus for simulating atmospheric phenomena. Ex. ... the Atmospherium creates thunderstorms from tiny clouds in a matter of minutes (Saturday Review). </DL> <A NAME="atmosphilelements"> atmosphil elements,<DL COMPACT><DD> oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, the elements concentrated in the atmosphere according to the theory that the earth was formed from a cooling mass of hot gases. </DL> <A NAME="atno"> at. no.,<DL COMPACT><DD> atomic number. </DL> <A NAME="atole"> atole, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a mush or gruel made of the meal of Indian corn in Spanish-American countries. </DL> <A NAME="atoll"> atoll, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a ring-shaped coral island or group of islands enclosing or partly enclosing lagoon. </DL> <A NAME="atom"> atom, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. the smallest particle of a chemical element that can take part in a chemical reaction without being permanently changed. An atom is made up of protons and neutrons in a central nucleus surrounded by electrons. Nearly all of its mass is concentrated in this nucleus. A molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Ex. About one hundred million atoms laid side by side are an inch long (J. L. Crammer and R. E. Peierls). <DD> 2. (Figurative.) a very small particle; tiny bit. Ex. There is not an atom of truth in the whole story. (SYN) iota, jot, grain, tittle. <DD> 3. one of the ultimate particles of matter, according to ancient philosophy, which came together to form the universe. </DL> <A NAME="atomarium"> atomarium, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a room or building for the display of equipment used in atomic research and the presentation of atomic phenomena. </DL> <A NAME="atombomb"> atom bomb, =atomic bomb.</DL> <A NAME="atombomb"> atom-bomb, transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to destroy or lay waste with atomic bombs. </DL> <A NAME="atombomber"> atom bomber, =atomic bomber.</DL> <A NAME="atomgun"> atom gun,<DL COMPACT><DD> a cyclotron or similar device; atom smasher. </DL> <A NAME="atomic"> atomic, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. of atoms; having to do with atoms. Ex. atomic research. Scientists have discovered many new atomic particles. <DD> 2. using atomic energy. Ex. an atomic submarine. <DD> 3. of or with atomic bombs. Ex. atomic fallout, atomic warfare. <DD> 4. (Chemistry.) separated into atoms. <DD> 5. (Figurative.) extremely small; minute. Ex. particles of atomic size, atomic changes in the atmosphere. <DD> 6. (Informal, Figurative.) very strong; powerful. Ex. an atomic stimulus to business. adv. atomically. </DL> <A NAME="atomicage"> atomic age,<DL COMPACT><DD> the present era, as that marked by the first use of atomic energy. Ex. A resident of the atomic age is constantly and forcibly reminded of change (Newsweek). </DL> <A NAME="atomical"> atomical, adjective. =atomic.</DL> <A NAME="atomicbomb"> atomic bomb,<DL COMPACT><DD> a bomb in which the splitting of atomic nuclei results in an explosion of tremendous force and heat, accompanied by a blinding light. The destructive force of an atomic bomb is due to nearly instantaneous and uncontrolled successive fissions of uranium or plutonium atoms in a chain reaction, each fission releasing tremendous energy and also neutrons which produce the succeeding fission. Also, A-bomb, atom bomb. See also fission bomb. </DL> <A NAME="atomicbomber"> atomic bomber,<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. a military aircraft that carries atomic bombs. <DD> 2. an aircraft powered by nuclear energy. </DL> <A NAME="atomicbreeder"> atomic breeder, =breeder reactor.</DL> <A NAME="atomiccalendar"> atomic calendar,<DL COMPACT><DD> a device for determining the age of any organic material, based upon a measurement of its radioactive carbon. Thus far it is accurate to a limit of about 40,000 years. </DL> <A NAME="atomicclock"> atomic clock,<DL COMPACT><DD> an instrument for measuring time using atomic vibrations as its standard of accuracy rather than the revolution of the earth. Ex. Atomic clocks can be made to measure time with an accuracy approaching one second per 1,000 years (Scientific American). </DL> <A NAME="atomiccloud"> atomic cloud,<DL COMPACT><DD> the upward-spiraling mass of radioactive dust and vapor formed by the explosion of a nuclear bomb. </DL> <A NAME="atomiccocktail"> atomic cocktail,<DL COMPACT><DD> a liquid suspension of radioactive isotopes of iodine, phosphorus, or some other element, given orally in the treatment of some types of cancer. </DL> <A HREF="atomicen.dic">NEXT</A>