molecule

American  

[mol-uh-kyool] / ˈmɒl əˌkyul /

noun

1. Chemistry, Physics. the smallest physical unit of an element or compound, consisting of one or more like atoms in an element and two or more different atoms in a compound.

2. Chemistry. a quantity of a substance, the weight of which, measured in any chosen unit, is numerically equal to the molecular weight; gram molecule.

3. any very small particle.

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molecule British  

/ ˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl /

noun

1. the simplest unit of a chemical compound that can exist, consisting of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

2. a very small particle

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molecule Scientific  

/ mŏl′ĭ-kyo̅o̅l′ /

1. A group of two or more atoms linked together by sharing electrons in a chemical bond. Molecules are the fundamental components of chemical compounds and are the smallest part of a compound that can participate in a chemical reaction.

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molecule Cultural  

1. A combination of two or more atoms held together by a force between them. (See covalent bond and ionic bond.)

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Other Word Forms

• submolecule noun
• supermolecule noun

Etymology

Origin of molecule

First recorded in 1785–95; earlier molecula, from New Latin, from Latin mōlē(s) “mass” ( molar ² ( def. ) ) + -cula -cule ¹

Compare meaning

How does molecule compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• formula unit vs. molecule

Example Sentences

The study found that brief, vigorous exercise quickly changes the mix of molecules circulating in the bloodstream.

From Science Daily

The insects convert them into aglycones, which no longer contain sugar molecules and have much stronger antimicrobial effects.

From Science Daily

This theoretical result was recently applied to the Quantum Echoes algorithm, impossible for conventional computers, which helps learn the structure of molecules from the same technology used in MRI machines.

From BBC

The molecules are still in development, and some still haven’t entered human testing, according to the biotech’s website.

From The Wall Street Journal

Life likely began when simple organic molecules formed a boundary separating an interior from the surrounding environment.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• fragment
• particle