molecule

mol·e·cule

A model of a water molecule.

noun

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.

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molecule

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
a small particle

Origin of molecule

French molécule from Modern Latin molecula, diminutive of Classical Latin moles, a mass: see mole

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molecule

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.
A small particle; a tiny bit.

Origin of molecule

French molécule from New Latin mōlēcula diminutive of Latin mōlēs mass

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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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.

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Molecule. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Molecule

Noun

(plural molecules or moleculÃ¦)

(chemistry) The smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
A tiny amount.

Origin

Summary: from French molÃ©cule, from New Latin molecula (“a molecule"), diminutive of Latin moles (“a mass"); see mole.

French molÃ©cule (1674, Pierre Le Gallois, Conversations tirÃ©es de l'AcadÃ©mie de M. l'abbÃ© Bourdelot, contenant diverses recherches et observations physiques) cited in Quemada, Bernard (1965), Datations et documents lexicographiques (tome 3).

Medieval Latin molecula (early XVII cent., Pierre Gassendi), cited in Le Grand Robert de la Langue FranÃ§aise (2e Ã©dn) tome 6. ISBN 2-85036-094-5. pp. 522-23. Diminutive of moles

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.