atmosphere

[at-muhs-feer]

noun

1. the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth; the air.

   a weather balloon rising high into the atmosphere.

2. this medium at a given place.

   the warm, dry atmosphere of the Joshua tree's natural environment.

3. Astronomy.,  the gaseous envelope surrounding a heavenly body.

   The white ovals seen in Saturn's atmosphere could be intense storms.

4. Chemistry.,  any gaseous envelope or medium.

   The ether was treated with a sulfate in an atmosphere of coal gas.

5. a conventional unit of pressure, the normal pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch (101.3 kilopascals), equal to the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 29.92 inches (760 millimeters) high. atm.

6. a surrounding or pervading mood, environment, or influence.

   an atmosphere of impending war;

   a very tense atmosphere.

7. the dominant mood or emotional tone of a work of art, as of a play or novel.

   the chilly atmosphere of a ghost story.

8. a distinctive quality, as of a place; character.

   The old part of town has lots of atmosphere.

9. Radio, Television, Movies.,  Also atmospheres, atmos the background sound that is present, or would naturally be present, in the location where a recording or broadcast is made, often recorded as a separate track and then mixed; ambient sound.

verb (used with object)

atmosphered, atmosphering 

1. to give an atmosphere to.

   The author had cleverly atmosphered the novel for added chills.

atmosphere

/ ˈætməsˌfɪə /

noun

1. the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth or any other celestial body See also troposphere stratosphere mesosphere ionosphere

2. the air or climate in a particular place

   the atmosphere was thick with smoke

3. a general pervasive feeling or mood

   an atmosphere of elation

4. the prevailing tone or mood of a novel, symphony, painting, or other work of art

5. a special mood or character associated with a place

6. any local gaseous environment or medium

   an inert atmosphere

7. Abbreviation: at.  atm. a unit of pressure; the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at 0°C at sea level. 1 atmosphere is equivalent to 101 325 newtons per square metre or 14.72 pounds per square inch

atmosphere

1. The mixture of gases surrounding the Earth or other celestial body, held in place by gravity. It forms distinct layers at different heights. The Earth's atmosphere consists, in ascending order, of the troposphere (containing 90% of the atmosphere's mass), the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. The atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) and plays a major role in the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the carbon cycle.

2. See more at exosphere mesosphere stratosphere thermosphere troposphere

3. A unit of pressure equal to the pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch, or 1,013 millibars.

atmosphere

1. The blanket of gas on the surface of a planet or satellite.

The atmosphere of the Earth is roughly eighty percent nitrogen and twenty percent oxygen, with traces of other gases. (See ionosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere.)

Other Word Forms

• atmospherically adverb
• atmospheric adjective
• atmosphereless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of atmosphere¹

From the New Latin word atmosphaera, dating back to 1630–40. See atmo-, -sphere

Example Sentences

During a lunar eclipse, the light illuminating the Moon has passed through Earth's atmosphere.

From BBC

"Coupled with the fact there are outstanding issues around staff travel arrangements, an atmosphere of distrust has been created, where our members feel like no-one is listening to them."

From BBC

“The evidence shows that human influence is warming the atmosphere, ocean, and land in a way that is unprecedented for many centuries to millennia,” they wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

So it is perhaps not surprising there has been a charged atmosphere at this year's US Open.

From BBC

To do that, the skipper is preparing his team to cope with an expected hostile atmosphere.

From BBC

Related Words

• air 
• ambience 
• aura 
• character 
• climate 
• color 
• environment 
• feel 
• feeling 
• flavor 
• mood 
• place 
• quality 
• scene 
• sense 
• space 
• spirit 
• surroundings 
• taste 
• tone