molecule
UK: ˈmɒlɪkjuːl | US: ˈmɑːlɪkjuːl
n. The smallest unit of a chemical compound, consisting of two or more atoms bonded together.
n. (General) A tiny particle or fragment of matter.
molecule = mole<mass, small unit> + cule<diminutive suffix>
- mole (from Latin moles, meaning "mass" or "barrier," later evolving to denote a small unit in scientific contexts).
- cule (a diminutive suffix derived from Latin -culus, indicating smallness, as in particle or minuscule).
Etymology Origin:
The word molecule traces back to Latin molecula, a diminutive form of moles ("mass"). Originally, moles referred to a bulky structure, but by the 17th century, scientists repurposed molecule to describe the smallest measurable unit of a substance. The suffix -cule emphasizes its tiny scale, reflecting how Latin diminutives were adopted into scientific terminology to denote precision.
A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
Scientists used a microscope to observe the behavior of a single molecule.
The drug’s effectiveness depends on how its molecules interact with cells.
Carbon dioxide molecules are released during combustion.
DNA is a complex molecule that carries genetic information.