Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun atom

2 senses of atom

Sense 1
atom -- ((physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element)
       => substance -- (the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; "DNA is the substance of our genes")

Sense 2
atom, molecule, particle, corpuscle, mote, speck -- ((nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything)
       => material, stuff -- (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object; "coal is a hard black material"; "wheat is the stuff they use to make bread")