Molecule meaning
The definition of a molecule is the smallest amount of something, particularly of a chemical substance, that can exist on its own.
An example of a molecule are two atoms of hydrogen.
noun
A small particle; a tiny bit.
noun
The smallest particle of a substance that retains the chemical and physical properties of the substance and is composed of two or more atoms; a group of like or different atoms held together by chemical forces.
noun
The smallest particle of an element or compound that can exist in the free state and still retain the characteristics of the element or compound: the molecules of elements consist of one atom or two or more similar atoms; those of compounds consist of two or more different atoms.
noun
A small particle.
noun
A group of two or more atoms linked together by sharing electrons in a chemical bond. Molecules are the fundamental components of chemical compounds and are the smallest part of a compound that can participate in a chemical reaction.
Origin of molecule
- French molécule from New Latin mōlēcula diminutive of Latin mōlēs mass
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- French molécule (1674, Pierre Le Gallois, Conversations tirées de l'Académie de M. l'abbé Bourdelot, contenant diverses recherches et observations physiques) cited in Quemada, Bernard (1965), Datations et documents lexicographiques (tome 3).
From Wiktionary
- Medieval Latin molecula (early XVII cent., Pierre Gassendi), cited in Le Grand Robert de la Langue Française (2e édn) tome 6. ISBN 2-85036-094-5. pp. 522-23. Diminutive of moles
From Wiktionary
-
From Wiktionary