Dictionary

atomize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈætəmaɪz/ (General-American)
• /ˈætəmaɪz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [-ɾə-] (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Ancient Greek τέμνω (témnō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek *τομός (*tomós) Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos)bor. Latin atomusbor. Middle French athomebor. Middle English attome English atom Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English atomize From atom + -ize.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To separate or reduce into atoms.
2. (transitive) To make into a fine spray.
   • Near-synonyms: aerosolize, vaporize, nebulize
3. (transitive) To fragment; to break into small pieces or concepts.
   • Near-synonyms: anatomize, analyze, scrutinize
   • An organism is then atomized into 'traits' and these traits are explained as structures optimally designed by natural selection for their functions. 1979, Gould, Stephen J., and Richard C. Lewontin. "The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 205: p. 585
4. (of people) To deprive of community and political capital.
   • Near-synonym: disunite
5. (transitive) To bomb with nuclear weapons.
   • Near-synonyms: pulverize, annihilate

Forms

Coordinates

pacify

Deriveds

atomizable · atomizer · atomization · atomizability

Relateds

dissociate

Synonyms

pulverize · nebulize · anatomize · disenfranchise · aerosolize · vaporize · scrutinize · disunite · analyze · annihilate

Translations (37)

gl atomizar (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · de atomisieren (to separate or reduce into atoms) · pl zatomizować (to make into a fine spray) · pl zatomizować (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · pt atomizar (to make into a fine spray) · es atomizar (to separate or reduce into atoms) · bg пулверизирам (to make into a fine spray) · hu szétforgácsol (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · fi pilkkoa (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · de atomisieren (to make into a fine spray) · pl atomizować (to separate or reduce into atoms) · hu atomizál (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · es atomizar (to make into a fine spray) · fi muuttaa sumuksi (to make into a fine spray) · fi pommittaa ydinaseilla (to bomb with nuclear weapons) · hu atomokra bont (to separate or reduce into atoms) · mi ngotangota (to separate or reduce into atoms) · fr bombarder (to bomb with nuclear weapons) · pl zatomizować (to separate or reduce into atoms) · es atomizar (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · de atomisieren (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · ca atomitzar (to make into a fine spray) · gl atomizar (to separate or reduce into atoms) · ca atomitzar (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · fr atomiser (to separate or reduce into atoms) · fi hajottaa atomeiksi (to separate or reduce into atoms) · pl atomizować (to make into a fine spray) · gl atomizar (to make into a fine spray) · pl atomizować (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · fr décomposer (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · fr atomiser (to bomb with nuclear weapons) · pt atomizar (to separate or reduce into atoms) · hu porlaszt (to make into a fine spray) · ga adamhaigh (to make into a fine spray) · pt atomizar (to fragment, break into small pieces or concepts) · bg разпрашвам (to make into a fine spray) · ca atomitzar (to separate or reduce into atoms)