(Greek mythology) a Titan who was forced by Zeus to bear the sky on his shoulders
"In Greek myths, Atlas is punished by Zeus to hold up the heavens for eternity."
a collection of maps in book form
"The geography teacher handed out an atlas so we could study the political boundaries for our exam."
the 1st cervical vertebra
"The MRI revealed a fracture in his atlas, which left him unable to turn his neck without severe pain."
A bound collection of maps often including tables, illustrations or other text.
"The museum curator explained that the vintage rocket on display was an original Atlas, marking the beginning of America's successful space program."
A rich satin fabric.
A particular model or individual specimen of the Atlas missile and launch vehicle line.
In plain English: An atlas is a book that contains maps of different places around the world.
"She kept her map of the world open on the dining table while planning the trip."
Usage: The word atlas most commonly refers to a collection of maps of the world or a specific region bound together in book form. Do not use it to describe a missile unless you are specifically discussing military hardware, as that is a rare technical meaning unrelated to daily conversation.
The son of Iapetus and Clymene, war leader of the Titans ordered by the god Zeus to support the sky on his shoulders; father to Hesperides, the Hyades, and the Pleiades; king of the legendary Atlantis.
"In our history class discussion about Greek mythology, I finally understood why Atlas was condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity after leading the Titan rebellion against Zeus."
The word atlas comes from a Latinized form of an Ancient Greek mythological figure named Atlas, who was known as the "Bearer of the Heavens." Its modern meaning for a book of maps arose when Gerardus Mercator honored this sky-bearing giant by naming his famous celestial globe after him.