Definitions for MOLECULE
ˈmɒl əˌkyulmol·e·cule

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. moleculenoun

   (physics and chemistry) the simplest structural unit of an element or compound

2. atom, molecule, particle, corpuscle, mote, specknoun

   (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. moleculenoun

   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.

2. moleculenoun

   A tiny amount.

3. Etymology: Summary: from molécule, from molecula, diminutive of moles; see mole.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Molecule

   A molecule is an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their lack of electrical charge. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, the distinction from ions is dropped and molecule is often used when referring to polyatomic ions. In the kinetic theory of gases, the term molecule is often used for any gaseous particle regardless of its composition. This violates the definition that a molecule contain two or more atoms, since the noble gases are individual atoms.A molecule may be homonuclear, that is, it consists of atoms of one chemical element, as with two atoms in the oxygen molecule (O2); or it may be heteronuclear, a chemical compound composed of more than one element, as with water (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom; H2O). Atoms and complexes connected by non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds or ionic bonds, are typically not considered single molecules.Molecules as components of matter are common. They also make up most of the oceans and atmosphere. Most organic substances are molecules. The substances of life are molecules, e.g. proteins, the amino acids they are made of, the nucleic acids (DNA & RNA), sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. The nutrient minerals ordinarily are not molecules, e.g. iron sulfate. However, the majority of familiar solid substances on Earth are not made of molecules. Including all of the minerals that make up the substance of the Earth, soil, dirt, sand, clay, pebbles, rocks, boulders, bedrock, the molten interior, the core of the Earth. All of these, contain many chemical bonds, but are not made of identifiable molecules. No typical molecule can be defined for salts nor for covalent crystals, although these are often composed of repeating unit cells that extend either in a plane, e.g. graphene; or three-dimensionally e.g. diamond, quartz, sodium chloride. The theme of repeated unit-cellular-structure also holds for most metals which are condensed phases with metallic bonding. Thus solid metals are not made of molecules. In glasses, which are solids that exist in a vitreous disordered state, the atoms are held together by chemical bonds with no presence of any definable molecule, nor any of the regularity of repeating unit-cellular-structure that characterizes salts, covalent crystals, and metals.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. molecule

   A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. It is the smallest identifiable unit into which a pure substance can be divided and still retains its composition and chemical properties. Molecules can vary in size and complexity, from simple molecules like oxygen (O2) to complex organic compounds such as proteins and DNA.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Moleculenoun

   one of the very small invisible particles of which all matter is supposed to consist

2. Moleculenoun

   the smallest part of any substance which possesses the characteristic properties and qualities of that substance, and which can exist alone in a free state

3. Moleculenoun

   a group of atoms so united and combined by chemical affinity that they form a complete, integrated whole, being the smallest portion of any particular compound that can exist in a free state; as, a molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Cf. Atom

4. Etymology: [Dim. fr. L. moles a mass: cf. F. molcule. See 3d Mole.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Molecule

   A molecule is an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their lack of electrical charge. However, in quantum physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, the term molecule is often used less strictly, also being applied to polyatomic ions. In the kinetic theory of gases, the term molecule is often used for any gaseous particle regardless of its composition. According to this definition, noble gas atoms are considered molecules despite being composed of a single non-bonded atom. A molecule may be homonuclear, that is, it consists of atoms of a single chemical element, as with oxygen; or it may be a chemical compound composed of more than one element, as with water. Atoms and complexes connected by non-covalent bonds such as hydrogen bonds or ionic bonds are generally not considered single molecules. Molecules as components of matter are common in organic substances. They also make up most of the oceans and atmosphere. However, the majority of familiar solid substances on Earth, including most of the minerals that make up the crust, mantle, and core of the Earth, contain many chemical bonds, but are not made of identifiable molecules. Also, no typical molecule can be defined for ionic crystals and covalent crystals, although these are often composed of repeating unit cells that extend either in a plane or three-dimensionally. The theme of repeated unit-cellular-structure also holds for most condensed phases with metallic bonding, which means that solid metals are also not made of molecules. In glasses, atoms may also be held together by chemical bonds without presence of any definable molecule, but also without any of the regularity of repeating units that characterises crystals.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Molecule

   mol′e-kūl, n. one of the minute particles of which matter is composed: the smallest mass of any substance which retains the properties of that substance.—adj. Molec′ular, belonging to, or consisting of, molecules.—n. Molecular′ity.—Molecular attraction, attraction acting on the atoms or molecules of a body, as distinguished from attraction of gravitation. [Fr.,—L. moles, a mass.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Molecule

   the smallest particle of which an element or a compound body is composed, and that retains all the properties in a free state.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. molecule

   A unit of matter.

   Liquids have molecules within them.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 30, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Physics
   • Unit

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'MOLECULE' in Nouns Frequency: #1696

How to pronounce MOLECULE?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say MOLECULE in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of MOLECULE in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of MOLECULE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of MOLECULE in a Sentence

1. Uwe Meierhenrich:

   Glyceraldehyde is a molecule of outstanding importance.

2. Edgar Mitchell:

   Looking at Earth from space and seeing it was a planet in isolation ... that was an experience of ecstasy, realizing that every molecule in our bodies is a system of matter created from a star hanging in space, the experience I had was called Samadhi in the ancient Sanskrit, a feeling of overwhelming joy at seeing the Earth from that perspective.

3. Felix Grewe:

   DNA is a very stable molecule, it can last a long time after the cells it's stored in have died.

4. Eric Wish:

   While the press and the media talk about Spice and K2 like it’s a single type of phenomenon, the truth can’t be further from that, basically what you have is some chemist in another country, oftentimes the DEA says it’s China, who waits and they see what has been put on the prohibited list by the government. And then they go ahead and they tweak the molecule a little so it’s no longer on the prohibited list and then they make it available.

5. Linda Birnbaum:

   So they went to the shorter chain carbons, and you study them, and they do just about the same thing, why would we think that you can make a very minor change in a molecule you are manufacturing and the body wouldn't react in the same way ? Studies also show the newer PFAS chemicals may migrate into food more readily than older forms.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=MOLECULE
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Molecule
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecule
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MOLECULE
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=MOLECULE
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=MOLECULE
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Molecule