atmosphere

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: at=mos=phere

CIDE DICTIONARY

atmosphere, n. [Gr. vapor (akin to Skr. ātman breath, soul, G. athem breath) + sphere: cf. F. atmosphère. See Sphere.].

•  The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars.  [1913 Webster]

  "An atmosphere of cold oxygen."  [1913 Webster]
•  A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies.  Franklin.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres."  [1913 Webster]
•  Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition.  [1913 Webster]

  "The chillest of social atmospheres."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

atmosphere, 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.

Derivative

atmospheric adj. atmospherical adj. atmospherically adv.

Etymology

mod.L atmosphaera f. Gk atmos vapour: see SPHERE

THESAURUS

atmosphere

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

ROGET THESAURUS

atmosphere

Circumjacence

N circumjacence, circumambience, environment, encompassment, atmosphere, medium, surroundings, outpost, border, girdle, outskirts, boulebards, suburbs, purlieus, precincts, faubourgs, environs, entourage, banlieue, neighborhood, vicinage, vicinity, circumjacent, circumambient, circumfluent, ambient, surrounding, circumferential, suburban, around, about, without, on every side, on all sides, right and left, all round, round about.

Air

N air, common air, atmospheric air, atmosphere, aerosphere, open air, sky, welkin, blue sky, cloud, weather, climate, rise and fall of the barometer, isobar, aerology, aerometry, aeroscopy, aeroscopy, aerography, meteorology, climatology, pneumatics, eudioscope, baroscope, aeroscope, eudiometer, barometer, aerometer, aneroid, baroscope, weather gauge, weather glass, weather cock, exposure to the air, exposure to the weather, ventilation, aerostation, aeronautics, aeronaut, containing air, flatulent, effervescent, windy, atmospheric, airy, aerial, aeriform, meteorological, weatherwise, in the open air, a la belle etoile, al fresco, sub jove dio.