atmospheric
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, existing in, or consisting of the atmosphere.
atmospheric vapors.
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caused by, produced by, or operated on by the atmosphere.
atmospheric storms.
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resembling or suggestive of the atmosphere; having muted tones and softened or indistinct outlines; hazy.
atmospheric effects.
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having or producing an emotional atmosphere.
atmospheric quality; atmospheric lighting.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atmospheric
First recorded in 1775–85; atmosphere + -ic
Explanation
Something that's atmospheric is related to a planet's atmosphere, or the gases that surround it. Atmospheric pollution can sometimes cause asthma and other breathing problems. All planets have an atmosphere, layers of gas that are held close to them by their gravitational pull. The atmospheric conditions on Earth have allowed many life forms to develop, but global warming is a serious atmospheric problem that is getting worse. Every planet has its own unique atmospheric makeup. The adjective atmospheric comes from atmosphere, which stems from the Greek root words atmos, "steam or vapor," and spharia, "sphere or globe."
Vocabulary lists containing atmospheric
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 3–February 9, 2024
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 23–October 29, 2021
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Despite the promising results, astronomers emphasize that additional observations are necessary to confirm the connection between Siwarha's orbit and the atmospheric distortions.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
At normal atmospheric pressure, the glass contained almost no excess oxygen.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
They suggest that heating during atmospheric entry, along with cracks left by previous collisions in space, may weaken the rocks enough to explain this unexpected behavior.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
If magma can store and release oxygen independently of its other chemical components, models of Earth's atmospheric development may need to account for this previously overlooked process.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Then there's the matter of the atmospheric regulator.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
