atomist theory
- noun
- /ˈætəmɪst ˈθɪəri/
- Specialized
:
teoría del atomismo
- The atomist theory faced opposition from those who believed matter was continuous rather than made of particles.
Examples
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Modern science has greatly expanded upon the original atomist theory proposed by early philosophers.
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The atomist theory revolutionized our understanding of matter.
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Many philosophers in ancient Greece supported the atomist theory to explain the nature of the universe.
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Many scientists support the atomist theory today.
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According to atomist theory, everything in the universe is composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms.
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The atomist theory revolutionized our understanding of matter by demonstrating that it is made up of fundamental units.
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Many scientists accept atomist theory as it explains the behavior and interactions of different elements at the atomic level.
Synonyms
1
3.6
A scientific idea that all matter is made of tiny particles called atoms
1
9.8
The idea that all matter is made of tiny particles too small to divide
A theory that says all matter is made of very small parts called atoms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derived from the constituents: 'atomist' (relating to atoms or those who study them) + 'theory' (a set of ideas), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer this refers to a theory about atoms or held by atomists. The noun–noun composition is compositional and cross-linguistically regular, making the expression transparent rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
The term atomist theory comes from an old picture of matter as tiny pieces called atoms, a word that once meant 'not cut'. So the name shows the idea that matter is made of many very small, 'indivisible' parts.