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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. The gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body, especially the one surrounding the earth, and retained by the celestial body's gravitational field.
  2. n. The air or climate in a specific place.
  3. n. Physics A unit of pressure equal to the air pressure at sea level. It equals the amount of pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 millimeters high at 0 degrees Celsius under standard gravity, or 14.7 pounds per square inch (1.01325 × 105 pascals). See Table at measurement.
  4. n. A dominant intellectual or emotional environment or attitude: an atmosphere of distrust among the electorate.
  5. n. The dominant tone or mood of a work of art.
  6. n. An aesthetic quality or effect, especially a distinctive and pleasing one, associated with a particular place: a restaurant with an Old World atmosphere.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. The aëriform fluid which surrounds the earth, and extends to an undetermined height above its surface; the air. It is a mechanical mixture of 79 parts by volume of nitrogen and 21 of oxygen, with a trace of carbon dioxid and a variable quantity of aqueous vapor, ammonia, ozone, and organic matter. The composition of the normal atmosphere varies but slightly in different localities, although near towns it usually contains impurities, such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. The movements of the atmosphere constitute the winds, and in it are formed or produced clouds, rain, and snow. Its density is greatest at the earth's surface, and decreases as the height above the earth increases. The atmosphere, like other bodies, gravitates toward the earth, and therefore has weight and exerts pressure. Its average weight at the level of the sea is about 15 pounds (14.7) to the square inch.
  2. n. A conventional unit of atmospheric pressure. An atmosphere is in English use the pressure of a vertical column of 30 inches of mercury at the freezing-point at London; in French use it is the pressure of 760 millimeters of mercury at the freezing-point at Paris. For the absolute atmosphere in the C. G. S. (centimeter-gram-second) system, see absolute. The weight of the atmosphere to the square inch is commonly employed as a convenient unit for pressures arising from other causes, such as the weight of liquids, the force of steam, etc.: thus, a pressure in a steam-boiler of 3 atmospheres means a pressure equal to 45 pounds per square inch.
  3. n. The gaseous envelop surrounding any of the heavenly bodies.
  4. n. Any gaseous medium: as, “an atmosphere of cold oxygen,” Miller.
  5. n. An assumed outer envelop of force, effluvia, etc., surrounding a body: as, an electrical atmosphere.
  6. n. Figuratively, intellectual or moral environment; pervading influence.

Wiktionary

  1. n. The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body.
  2. n. The air in a particular place.
  3. n. The mood or feeling in a situation.
  4. n. A unit of measurement for pressure (symbol: atm)

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body.
  2. n. Any gaseous envelope or medium.
  3. n. A supposed medium around various bodies.
  4. n. The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 lbs. to the sq. inch.
  5. n. Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition.
  6. n. The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. the mass of air surrounding the Earth
  2. n. a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing
  3. n. a particular environment or surrounding influence
  4. n. the envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body
  5. n. the weather or climate at some place
  6. n. a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade

Etymologies

  1. From New Latin atmosphaera, from Ancient Greek ἀτμός (atmós, "steam") + Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaĩra, "sphere"). (Wiktionary)
  2. New Latin atmosphaera : Greek atmos, vapor; see sphere. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “_ -- Watt being a mathematical instrument maker, was requested to repair an old engine used by some students of Glasgow University; having finished the repairs, and in working this model (the best type of the atmospheric engine), he found and proved by many and various experiments, that an enormous waste of fuel was absolutely necessary in working the engine; he found great difficulty in keeping the air from entering the cylinder, and the cylinder top was so exposed to the atmosphere that the steam was much condensed when it entered the cylinder, and he came to the conclusion to put a cover on the top of the cylinder, and allow the piston-rod to play in a hole in the cover with a gland and stuffing box, and _to press down the piston with steam instead of the atmosphere_.”

    The Stoker's Catechism

  • “When the atmosphere is of the same weight and density orer a considerable extent of the surface of the earth, there a calm will obtain: but if this equipoise is taken off, a stream of air, or. wind, is produced, stronger or weaker in proportion to the alteration made in the state of the atmosphere* There are direr* causes which make these alterations in the equipoise of the atmosphere, such as rarefactions or conden - sations in one part more than in another; yapoura rising from the earth or sea, pressure of the clouds, &c.”

    Internet Archive: The Complete Weather Guide: A Collection of Practical Observations for Prognosticating the ...

  • “However, the bit that one tree can draw from the atmosphere is a minute fraction of what another tree, left uncut, would consume.”

    Think Progress » Cuccinelli mocks dangers of CO2, telling Tea Partiers to hold their breath and make the EPA happy.

  • “Accordingly the atmosphere is a bit strained and the men have difficulties in getting used to this kind of treatment.”

    Work Camp 7010 GW

  • “Until you've played in one, you don't realize how different the atmosphere is at a major.”

    In majors, taking on Tiger always part of the problem

  • “We could, if the we decide that reducing the amount of co2 in the atmosphere is a worthy goal, use some of the proceeds of a carbon tax to pay for schemes that get co2 from the atmosphere and sequester it.”

    Climate Change--a Range of Views, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

  • “Pumping sulfur into the atmosphere is a lot easier than trying to orchestrate the actions of 200 countries — or, for that matter, 7 billion individuals — each of whom has strong incentives to cheat.”

    Re-Engineering the Earth

  • “Peak coal will follow peak oil by about 20 years, maybe 10 if we pursue the insane delusions of the cornucopians who think that trying make Nazi oil and pumping all the carbon of the coal fields into the atmosphere is a good idea.”

    No Snickers bars? Blame Peak Oil (Jack Bog's Blog)

  • “Just curious as they seemed to be crying about how bad the atmosphere is here while going out of their way to make it worse.”

    Think Progress » Right-Wing Fringe Rebels Against Palin Over Her Endorsement Of ‘RINO’ McCain

  • “But a well-funded, fully verified program funding projects that permanently remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is a good start, a beginning to a more holistic solution, and a means through which consumers can voice their concerns and desire to make a real difference.”

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Voluntary Carbon Offset Program Most Popular With Customers

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘atmosphere’.

Comments

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  • bilby Scroll down. Sep 12, 2011

  • mpassenkov How come no pictures of atmosphere are available? Sep 12, 2011

  • sionnach
    Mollusque is indeed a tagmeister par excellence!
    Myself, I'm a tag-tyro. Jan 26, 2009

  • bilby Tag: pink has been used 5 times by mollusque, 5 times total. Jan 26, 2009

  • sionnach Wouldn't the color of the atmosphere depend on one's geographical location, as well as local ambient conditions, such as the smog level? Jan 26, 2009

  • gangerh This when the sound recordist is recording the sound of silence for the dub. May 13, 2008

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‘atmosphere’ has been looked up 4199 times, loved by 8 people, added to 32 lists, commented on 6 times, and has a Scrabble score of 17.