Adjacent Words

Atmosphere definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AT'MOSPHERE, n. [Gr. vapor, and a sphere.
The whole mass of fluid, consisting of air, aqueous and other vapors, surrounding the earth.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a particular environment or surrounding influence; "there was an atmosphere of excitement" [syn: atmosphere, ambiance, ambience]
2: a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade [syn: standard atmosphere, atmosphere, atm, standard pressure]
3: the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: atmosphere, air]
4: the weather or climate at some place; "the atmosphere was thick with fog" [syn: atmosphere, atmospheric state]
5: the envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body
6: a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance" [syn: air, aura, atmosphere]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: New Latin atmosphaera, from Greek atmos vapor + Latin sphaera sphere Date: 1677 1. a. the gaseous envelope of a celestial body (as a planet) b. the whole mass of air surrounding the earth 2. the air of a locality 3. a surrounding influence or environment <an atmosphere of hostility> 4. a unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level or approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch (101,325 pascals) 5. a. the overall aesthetic effect of a work of art b. an intriguing or singular tone, effect, or appeal <an inn with atmosphere> • atmosphered adjective

NOAA Weather Glossary

The mass of air surrounding the earth and bound to it more or less permanently by the earth's gravitational attraction.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a the envelope of gases surrounding the earth, any other planet, or any substance. b the air in any particular place, esp. if unpleasant. 2 a the pervading tone or mood of a place or situation, esp. with reference to the feelings or emotions evoked. b the feelings or emotions evoked by a work of art, a piece of music, etc. 3 Physics a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals. Usage: Abbr.: atm. Derivatives: atmospheric adj. atmospherical adj. atmospherically adv. Etymology: mod.L atmosphaera f. Gk atmos vapour: see SPHERE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Atmosphere At"mos*phere, n. [Gr. ? vapor (akin to Skr. [=a]tman breath, soul, G. athem breath) + ? sphere: cf. F. atmosph[`e]re. See Sphere.] 1. (Physics) (a) The whole mass of a["e]riform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars. (b) Any gaseous envelope or medium. An atmosphere of cold oxygen. --Miller. 2. A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies. --Franklin. 3. The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 Ibs. to the sq. inch. Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres. --Lubbock. 4. Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition. The chillest of social atmospheres. --Hawthorne. 5. The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(atmospheres) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A planet's atmosphere is the layer of air or other gases around it. The shuttle Columbia will re-enter Earth's atmosphere tomorrow morning... N-COUNT: usu sing 2. The atmosphere of a place is the air that you breathe there. These gases pollute the atmosphere of towns and cities. N-COUNT: usu sing 3. The atmosphere of a place is the general impression that you get of it. There's still an atmosphere of great hostility and tension in the city. N-SING: usu with supp 4. If a place or an event has atmosphere, it is interesting. The old harbour is still full of atmosphere and well worth visiting. = ambience

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Air.

Moby Thesaurus

action, aerial, aerodynamics, aerosphere, air, ambience, ambient, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture, argument, arrangement, atmospheric, aura, background, balance, biosphere, brushwork, catastrophe, character, characteristic, characterization, climate, color, complication, composition, continuity, contrivance, denouement, design, development, device, draftsmanship, ecosphere, episode, fable, falling action, feel, feeling, flavor, fluid, gas, gaseous envelope, gimmick, grouping, halogen gas, impression, incident, individuality, inert gas, lift, line, local color, medium, milieu, mise-en-scene, mood, motif, movement, mythos, noosphere, note, overtone, painterliness, peculiarity, peripeteia, perspective, plan, plot, pneumatic, pneumatics, property, quality, recognition, rising action, scheme, secondary plot, semblance, sense, shading, shadow, slant, spirit, story, structure, subject, subplot, suggestion, surroundings, switch, technique, thematic development, theme, tone, topic, treatment, twist, undertone, values, welkin