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Molecule Very Common

Molecule has 3 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

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

"A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom, representing the smallest unit that retains the properties of water."

2

(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

"The detective tried to find that single molecule of poison hidden in the victim's drink."

3

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.

"A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms chemically bonded to one oxygen atom, retaining the unique properties of liquid water."

In plain English: A molecule is two or more atoms stuck together that act as a single unit to make up everything around you.

"You can see every molecule in that glass of water under a powerful microscope."

Usage: Use molecule specifically when referring to substances formed by two or more chemically bonded atoms, such as water or oxygen gas. Do not use it for single isolated atoms like helium, which are simply called atoms rather than molecules.

Example Sentences
"You can see every molecule in that glass of water under a powerful microscope." noun
"The scientist explained that every molecule of water plays a vital role in life." noun
"She wondered how many molecules were floating in the air outside her window." noun
"Even the smallest drop of perfume contains billions of distinct fragrance molecules." noun
Related Terms
atom stereoelectronics bond order buckyball substituent dioctadecyl cofactor agonist goadsporin molfile aminoglycoside dihydrolipoamide trilithium docosanoid immunochemistry rotaxane valence fructosamine mean free path bilayer
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
unit material
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
dipole molecule protein molecule coenzyme ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid macromolecule grain grinding chylomicron flyspeck identification particle

Origin

The word entered English via the French molécule and originally referred to a tiny mass. It was formed in Late Latin as a diminutive of moles, meaning "mass."

Rhyming Words
ule jule yule tule pule bule rule mule zule baule houle thule ovule joule boule brule poule soule emule maule
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