atmospheric

American

[at-muhs-fer-ik, -feer-] / ˌæt məsˈfɛr ɪk, -ˈfɪər- /

Also atmospherical

adjective

pertaining to, existing in, or consisting of the atmosphere.

atmospheric vapors.
caused by, produced by, or operated on by the atmosphere.

atmospheric storms.
resembling or suggestive of the atmosphere; having muted tones and softened or indistinct outlines; hazy.

atmospheric effects.
having or producing an emotional atmosphere.

atmospheric quality; atmospheric lighting.

Other Word Forms

atmospherically adverb
nonatmospheric adjective
nonatmospherical adjective
nonatmospherically adverb
unatmospheric adjective

Etymology

Origin of atmospheric

First recorded in 1775–85; atmosphere + -ic

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.

As atmospheric CO2 rises and temperatures increase, rainfall carries larger amounts of nutrients such as phosphorus into the sea.

From Science Daily

Next arrived atmospheric rivers—intense weather systems that broke levees, flooded towns and killed at least one in Western Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal

These materials can only be created under enormous pressures that exceed atmospheric pressure by more than a million times.

From Science Daily

UVS collects ultraviolet light to study the makeup of Europa's atmospheric gases and materials on its icy surface.

From Science Daily

The song splits the difference between atmospheric trap heaven and hardstyle hell, placing you squarely in a warehouse mosh pit.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023