molecule
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the smallest part of a chemical substance that can exist on its own, made of two or more atoms.
the smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains its chemical properties, consisting of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
Simple“A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.”
In context“The researchers used an electron microscope to observe how each individual molecule reacted when exposed to the new catalyst.”
UsageCountable noun in scientific contexts.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a very small amount of something.
an infinitesimal or extremely small quantity of a substance or quality.
Simple“There was not a single molecule of dust left in the clean room.”
In context“He did not possess a single molecule of common sense, despite his impressive academic credentials.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used in negative sentences to emphasize that something is completely missing.
“I'm interested in how simple ingredients come together to form bigger and bigger molecules, including those that are building blocks of life.”
“For decades, scientists generally assumed that fossilization destroyed the original organic molecules once present in bones, teeth, and other tissues.”
Borrowed from French molécule, from New Latin molecula (“a molecule”), diminutive of Latin moles (“a mass”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.