as· pect (asʹ pekt), n. 1 look; appearance:
aspect of the countryside. 2 countenance;
expression: the solemn aspect of a judge.
3 one side or part or view (of a subject):
various aspects of a plan. 4 side fronting in a given direction: the southern aspect of a house. 5 relative position of planets 40 as
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as determining their supposed infl uence upon human aff airs. [< L, < ad– at + specere look]
as· pen (asʹ pәn), n. poplar tree whose leaves tremble and rustle in the slightest breeze. —adj. 1 of this tree. 2 quivering;
trembling.
as· per· i· ty (as perʹ ә ti), n., pl. –ties. rough-ness; harshrough-ness; severity. [< OF < L,
< asper rough]
as· per· sion (әs pėrʹ zhәn; –shәn), n. dam-aging or false report; slander.
as· phalt (asʹ fôlt; –falt), n. 1 dark-colored substances, much like tar, found in vari-ous parts of the world or obtained by evaporating petroleum. 2 mixture of this substance with crushed rock, used for pavements, roofs, etc. —v. cover a surface with asphalt. [< LL < Gk. asphal-tos < Semitic] —as· phalʹ tic, adj.
as· pho· del (asʹ fә del), n. 1 plant of the lily family with spikes of white or yel-low fl owers. 2 Gk. Myth. fl ower of the Greek paradise. 3 daff odil. [< L < Gk.
asphodelos]
as· phyx· i· a (as fi kʹ si ә), n. suff ocation or unconscious condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood. [< NL < Gk., < a– without + sphyxis pulse < sphyzein throb]
as· phyx· i· ate (as fi kʹ si āt), v., –at· ed, –at-ing. suff ocate because of lack of oxy-gen. —as· phyx´ i· aʹ tion, n. as· phyxʹ i-a´ tor, n.
as· pic (asʹ pik), n. kind of jelly made from meat, tomato juice, etc. [< F]
as· pi· dis· tra (as´ pә disʹ trә), n. plant with large, green leaves and very small fl ow-ers, used as a house plant. [< NL < Gk.
aspis shield + astron star]
as· pir· ant (әs pīrʹ әnt; asʹ pә rәnt), n. per-son who aspires; perper-son who seeks a position of honor. —adj. aspiring.
as· pi· rate (v. asʹ pә rāt; adj., n. asʹ pә rit), v., –rat· ed, –rat· ing, adj., n. Phonet. —v. 1 pronounce with a breathing or h-sound.
Th e h in hot is aspirated. 2 withdraw by suction. —adj. pronounced with a breathing or h-sound. —n. aspirated sound. [< L aspiratus. See aspire.]
as· pi· ra· tion (as´ pә rāʹ shәn), n. 1 earnest desire; longing. 2 act of drawing air into the lungs; breathing. 3 Phonet. a an aspi-rating (of sounds). b an aspirated sound.
4 withdrawal by suction.
as· pi· ra· tor (asʹ pә rā´ tәr), n. apparatus or device employing suction.
as· pire (әs pīrʹ ), v., –pired, –pir· ing. 1 have an ambition for something; desire earnestly. 2 rise. [< L, < ad– toward + spirare breathe] —as· pirʹ er, n. —as· pirʹ-ing· ly, adv.
as· pi· rin (asʹ pә rin), n. drug for head-aches, colds, etc., C9H8O4. It is the acetate of salicylic acid. [from trademark]
ass (as), n. 1 a long-eared mammal of the horse family, serving as a patient, sure-footed beast of burden when domesticated; donkey. 2 stupid fool; silly
person. [OE assa < OWelsh < L asinus]
—assʹ like´ , adj.
as· sail (ә sālʹ ), v. 1 set upon with violence;
attack. 2 set upon vigorously with argu-ments, abuse, etc. [< OF < VL < L ad– at + salire leap] —as· sailʹ a· ble, adj. —as-sailʹ er, n. —as· —as-sailʹ ment, n.
as· sail· ant (ә sālʹ әnt), n. person who attacks. —adj. assailing.
as· sas· sin (ә sasʹ әn), n. murderer, esp.
one hired to murder. [< F < Ital. < Ar.
hashshāshīn hashish eaters; with ref. to fanatics who murdered while under the infl uence of hashish]
as· sas· si· nate (ә sasʹ ә nāt), v., –nat-ed, –nat· ing. kill by a sudden or secret attack; murder. —as· sas´ si· naʹ tion, n.
—as· sasʹ si· na´ tor, n.
as· sault (ә sôltʹ ), n. 1 sudden, vigorous attack; onslaught; charge. 2 vigorous attack made on traditions, institutions, opinions, etc. 3 Law. an attempt or off er to do violence to another. 4 fi nal phase of an attack; close hand-to-hand fi ghting. —v. make an assault on. [< OF,
< L ad– at + saltare leap] —as· saultʹ a· ble, adj. —as· saultʹ er, n.
as· say (v. ә sāʹ ; n. ә sāʹ , asʹ ā), v. 1 analyze (an ore, alloy, etc.) to fi nd out the quan-tity of gold, silver, or other metal in it. 2 try; test; examine. 3 (of ore) contain, as shown by analysis, a certain proportion of metal. —n. 1 analysis of an ore, alloy, etc., to fi nd out the amount of metal in it.
2 trial; test; examination. 3 the substance analyzed or tested. 4 list of the results of assaying an ore, drug, etc. [< OF a(s) sayer, ult. < LL, < VL exagere weigh]
—as· sayʹ a· ble, adj. —as· sayʹ er, n.
as· sem· blage (ә semʹ blij), n. 1 group of persons gathered together; assembly. 2 collection; group. 3 a bringing or com-ing together; meetcom-ing. 4 a puttcom-ing or fi tting together, as parts of a machine.
5 work of art made from miscellaneous things.
as· sem· ble (ә semʹ bәl), v., –bled, –bling.
1 gather or bring together. 2 come together; meet; congregate. 3 put or fi t together. [< OF as(s)embler < VL assim-ulare bring together < L, compare, ult.
< ad– to + similis like, or simul together]
—as· semʹ bler, n.
as· sem· bly (ә semʹ bli), n., pl. –blies. 1 group of people gathered together for some purpose; meeting; convention.
2 lawmaking group; legislature. 3 an assembling; gathering: unlawful assem-bly. 4 the act or process of putting or fi tting together. 5 parts put together to form a unit. 6 Assembly, in some states, the lower branch of the state legislature.
assembly line, row of workers and machines along which work is succes-sively passed until the fi nal product is made.
as· sem· bly· man, As· sem· bly· man (ә semʹ bli mәn), n., pl. –men. member of a lawmaking group.
as· sent (ә sentʹ), v. express agreement;
agree. —n. acceptance of a proposal, statement, etc.; agreement. [< OF < L, ad– along with + sentire feel, think]
—as· sentʹ er, n. —as· sentʹ ing· ly, adv.
as· sert (ә sėrtʹ), v. 1 state positively;
declare; affi rm; maintain. 2 insist on (a right, a claim, etc.); defend.
assert oneself, put oneself forward;
refuse to be ignored. [< L, < ad– to + serere join] —as· sertʹ a· ble, as· sertʹ i· ble, adj. —as· sertʹ er, as· serʹ tor, n.
as· ser· tion (ә sėrʹ shәn), n. 1 positive state-ment; declaration. 2 act of asserting.
as· ser· tive (ә sėrʹ tiv), adj. too confi dent and certain; positive. —as· serʹ tive· ly, adv. —as· serʹ tive· ness, n.
as· sess (ә sesʹ), v. 1 estimate the value of (property or income) for taxation. 2 fi x the amount of (a tax, fi ne, damages, etc.).
3 put a tax or fi ne on (a person, property, etc.). 4 portion out as a tax; apportion. 5 consider the importance or value of.
[< OF < VL assessare fi x a tax < L assidere < ad– by + sedere sit] —as-sessʹ a· ble, adj.
as· sess· ment (ә sesʹ mәnt), n. 1 act of assessing. 2 amount assessed. 3 appraisal of the value or importance of some-thing.
as· ses· sor (ә sesʹ әr), n. person who assesses taxes. —as· sesʹ sor· ship, n.
as· set (asʹ et), n. 1 something having value.
2 a single item of property.
as· sets (asʹ ets), n. pl. 1 things of value;
property. 2 property that can be used to pay debts. [< OF asez enough < L ad– to + satis enough]
as· sev· er· ate (ә sevʹ әr āt), v., –at· ed, –at-ing. declare solemnly; state positively.
[< L, < ad– + severus serious] —as-sevʹ er· aʹ tion, n.
as· si· du· i· ty (as´ ә düʹ ә ti; –dūʹ ә–), n., pl.
–ties. careful and steady attention; dili-gence.
as· sid· u· ous (ә sijʹ ˙u әs), adj. careful and attentive; diligent. [< L, < assidere sit at.
See assess.] —as· sidʹ u· ous· ly, adv. —as-sidʹ u· ousness, n.
as· sign (ә sīnʹ ), v. 1 give as a share; allot.
2 appoint, as to a post or duty. 3 name defi nitely; fi x; set; designate. 4 refer;
ascribe; attribute. 5 transfer or hand over (property, a right, etc.) legally. —n.
person to whom property, a right, etc., is legally transferred. [< OF < L, ad– to, for + signum mark] —as· signʹ a· ble, adj.
—as· sign´ a· bilʹ i· ty, n. —as· signʹ a· bly, adv. —as· signʹ er, n.
as· sig· na· tion (as´ ig nāʹ shәn), n. 1 illicit meeting of lovers. 2 appointment for a meeting. 3 legal transfer of property, a right, etc. 4 an allotting.
as· sign· ee (ә sī nēʹ ; as´ ә nēʹ), n. person to whom some property, right, etc., is legally transferred.
as· sign· ment (ә sīnʹ mәnt), n. 1 some-thing assigned. 2 duty, task, position, etc., given to one to perform or fi ll. 3
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an assigning. 4 legal transfer of some property, right, etc.
as· sign· or (ә sī nôrʹ ; as´ ә nôrʹ), n. person who legally transfers to another some property, right, etc.
as· sim· i· la· ble (ә simʹ ә lә bәl), adj. that can be assimilated. —as· sim´ i· la· bilʹ i-ty, n.
as· sim· i· late (ә simʹ ә lāt), v., –lat· ed, –lat-ing. 1 absorb; digest; incorporate. 2 be absorbed. 3 make like or cause to be like in language, customs, etc. 4 absorb a consonant sound into the sound before or aft er it. [< L, < ad– to + similis like] —as· sim´ i· laʹ tion, n. —as· simʹ ila´-tor, n.
as· sim· i· la· tive (ә simʹ ә lā´ tiv), adj. assim-ilating. —as· simʹ i· laʹ tive· ness, n.
as· sist (ә sistʹ ), v. 1 help; aid. 2 be an assis-tant. 3 in sports, help a teammate score or complete a play. —n. in sports, help given to put a runner out, complete a play, etc. [< F < L, < ad– by + sistere take a stand] —as· sistʹ er, Law assisʹ tor, n.
as· sist· ance (ә sisʹ tәns), n. help; aid.
as· sist· ant (ә sisʹ tәnt), n. helper; aid.
—adj. helping; assisting. —as· sistʹ ant-ship, n.
assisted living, type of housing for peo-ple who need some assistance in daily life but are not infi rm.
as· size (ә sīzʹ), n. 1 session of a law court.
2 verdict; judgment. 3 assizes, periodi-cal sessions of court held in each county of England. [< OF]
assn., ass’n., or Assn. association.
association football, esp. Brit., soccer.
as· so· ci· a· tive (ә sōʹ shi ā´ tiv), adj. 1 tend-ing to associate. 2 pertaintend-ing to asso-ciation. 3 of or having to do with the associative law of numbers. —assoʹ ci-aʹ tive· ly, adv.
associative law, law of numbers that the product or sum of two or more numbers will not change regardless of their order in combination. (4 + 3) +5 and (5 + 3) + 4 both yield 12.
associative memory or storage, type of computer data memory.
as· so· nance (asʹ ә nәns), n. 1 resemblance in sound. 2 a substitute for rhyme in which the vowels are alike but the con-sonants are diff erent, as in brave—vain, lone—show. [< F < L, < ad– to + sonare sound] —asʹ so· nant, adj., n. —as´so-nanʹ tal, adj.
as· sort (ә sôrtʹ), v. 1 sort out; classify;
arrange in sorts. 2 furnish with various sorts. 3 agree; suit; match. 4 associate.
[< F, < a– to (< L ad–) + sorte sort]
—as· sortʹ er, n. —as· sortʹ ment, n.
as· sort· ed (ә sôrʹ tid), adj. 1 selected so as to be of diff erent kinds; various. 2 arranged by kinds; classifi ed.
as· ter (asʹ tәr), n. 1 any plant of a wide-spread genus with colorful, daisylike blossoms. 2 plant of some allied genus, as the China aster. [< L < Gk., star]
—asʹ ter· like´ , adj.
as· ter· isk (asʹ tәr isk), n. a star-shaped mark (*) used in printing and writing to call attention to a footnote, indicate an omission, etc. —v. mark with an asterisk.
[< LL < Gk., dim. of aster star]
a· stern (ә stėrnʹ), adv. 1 at or toward the rear of a ship. 2 backward. 3 behind.
as· ter· oid (asʹ tәr oid), n. 1 any of the very numerous small planets revolving about the sun between the orbit of Mars and the orbit of Jupiter. 2 any starfi sh.
—as´ ter· oiʹ dal, adj.
asth· ma (azʹ mә; asʹ –), n. a chronic disease that causes diffi culty in breathing, a feel-ing of suff ocation, and coughfeel-ing. [< Gk., panting, < azein breathe hard]
asth· mat· ic (az matʹ ik; as–), adj. 1 of or pertaining to asthma. 2 suff ering from asthma. —n. person suff ering from asthma. —asth· matʹ i· cal· ly, adv.
as· tig· mat· ic (as´ tig matʹ ik), adj. 1 having astigmatism. 2 pertaining to astigma-tism. 3 correcting astigmaastigma-tism. —as´ tig-matʹ i· cal· ly, adv.
a· stig· ma· tism (ә stigʹ mә tiz әm), n.
defect of the eye or of a lens whereby rays of light fail to converge to a focus, thus making objects look indistinct or imperfect. [< a– without + Gk. stigma point]
a· stir (ә stėrʹ ), adv., adj. in motion.
as· ton· ish (әs tonʹ ish), v. surprise greatly;
amaze; astound. [var. of astoun < OF estoner < VL extonare. Cf. L attonare.]
—as· tonʹ ished· ly, adv. —as· tonʹ ish· er, n.
as· ton· ish· ing (әs tonʹ ish ing), adj. very surprising; amazing. —as· tonʹ ish· ing-ly, adv.
as· ton· ish· ment (әs tonʹ ish mәnt), n.
1 great surprise; amazement; sudden wonder. 2 anything that causes great surprise.
as· tound (әs toundʹ), v. surprise very greatly; amaze. [earlier astoun, var. of astony astonish] —as· toundʹ ing, adj.
—as· toundʹ ing· ly, adv.
a· strad· dle (ә stradʹ әl), adv., adj. astride.
as· tra· gal (asʹ trә gәl), n. Archit. a small, convex molding cut into the form of a string of beads.
as· trag· a· lus (as tragʹ ә lәs), n., pl. –li (–lī).
Anat. the uppermost bone of the tarsus;
anklebone; talus. [< L < Gk. astragalos]
as· tra· khan, as· tra· chan (asʹ trә kәn), n 1 the curly furlike wool on the skin of young lambs from Astrakhan, a district in SW Russia. 2 a woolen cloth resem-bling it. [named for Astrakhan]
as· tral (asʹ trәl), adj. of the stars; starry.
[< LL, < astrum star < Gk. astron]
a· stray (ә strāʹ ), adj., adv. out of the right way; straying.
a· stride (ә strīdʹ), adj., adv. 1 with one leg on each side. 2 with legs far apart.
—prep. with one leg on each side of (something).
as· trin· gent (әs trinʹ jәnt), adj. 1 having the property of shrinking or contract-ing. 2 severe. —n. substance that shrinks tissues and checks the fl ow of blood by
contracting blood vessels, as alum. [< L,
< ad– to + stringere bind] —astrinʹgen-cy, n. —as· trinʹ gently, adv.
astrol., astrologer; astrology.
as· tro· labe (asʹ trә lāb), n. an astronomical instrument formerly used for measuring the altitude of the sun or stars. [< OF
< Med.L < Gk. astrolabon, orig., star-taking < astron star + lambanein take]
as· trol· o· ger (әs trolʹ ә jәr), n. person who claims to interpret the infl uence of the stars and planets on persons, events, etc.
as· trol· o· gy (әs trolʹ ә ji), n. 1 study of the supposed infl uence of the stars and planets on persons, events, etc. 2 Archaic. practical astronomy. —as´logʹi· cal, as´ tro· logʹ ic, adj. —as´ tro-logʹ i· cally, adv.
astron., astronomer; astronomical;
astronomy.
as· tro· naut (asʹ trә nôt), n. a pilot or mem-ber of a crew of a spacecraft .
as· tro· nau· tics (as´ trә nôʹ tiks), n. science that deals with spacecraft and space travel. —asʹ tronauʹ ti· cal, as´ tro· nauʹ-tic, adj.
as· tron· o· mer (әs tronʹ ә mәr), n. expert in astronomy.
as· tro· nom· i· cal (as´ trә nomʹ ә kәl), as-tronom· ic (–nomʹ ik), adj. 1 of astron-omy; having to do with astronomy. 2 extremely large. —as´ tro· nomʹ i· cal· ly, adv.
astronomical year, period of the earth’s revolution around the sun; solar year.
as· tron· o· my (әs tronʹ ә mi), n. science of the sun, moon, planets, stars, and other celestial bodies, their composi-tion, motions, positions, distances, sizes, etc. [< L < Gk., < astron star + nomos distribution]
as· tro· phys· ics (as´ trō fi zʹ iks), n. branch of astronomy that deals with the physi-cal and chemiphysi-cal characteristics of celestial bodies. —as´ tro· physʹ i· cal, adj.
—as´ tro· physʹ i· cist, n.
As· tro Turf (asʹ trō tėrf´ ), Trademark.
artifi cial grass.
as· tro· turf (asʹ trō tėrf´), n. Fig. phoney grassroots movement or support for a position, project, candidate, etc., esp.
that is government-sponsored.
as· tute (әs tütʹ ; –tūtʹ ), adj. sagacious;
shrewd; craft y. [< L, < astus sagacity]
—as· tuteʹ ly, adv. —as· tuteʹ ness, n.
A· sun· ción (ä sün syônʹ), n. capital of Paraguay.
a· sun· der (ә sunʹ dәr), adj. apart; separate.
—adv. in pieces; into separate parts.
a· sy· lum (ә sīʹ lәm), n. 1 institution for the support and care of people who cannot care for themselves. 2 refuge, as a church for a fugitive or country of sanctuary.
[< L < Gk. asylon refuge < a– without + syle right of seizure]
a· sym· me· try (ā simʹ ә tri; a–), n. lack of symmetry. —a´ sym· metʹ ric, a´ sym-metʹ ri· cal, adj. —a´ sym· sym-metʹ ri· cal· ly, adv.
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as· ymp· tote (asʹ im tōt), n. Math. a straight line that continually approaches a curve, but does not meet it within a fi nite distance. —as´ymp· totʹ ic, as´ ymp· totʹ i-cal, adj. —as´ ymp· totʹ i· cal· ly, adv.
at (at; unstressed әt, it), prep. 1 in; on; by;
near: at school. 2 to; toward: look at me.
3 in a condition of: at war. 4 on or near the time of: at midnight. 5 because of.
[OE œt]
at., 1 atmosphere. 2 atomic.
At· a· lan· ta (at´ ә lanʹ tә), n. Gk. Legend. a maiden famous for her beauty and her speed in running.
at· a· vism (atʹ ә viz әm), n. 1 resemblance to a remote ancestor. 2 reversion to a primitive type. [< L atavus ancestor]
—atʹ a· vist, n. —at´ a· visʹ tic, adj. —at´ a-visʹ ti· cal· ly, adv.
a· tax· i· a (ә takʹ si ә), n. inability to coordi-nate voluntary movements; irregularity in bodily functions or muscular move-ments. [< NL, Gk., < a– without + taxis order] —a· taxʹ ic, adj.
ate (āt), v. pt. of eat.
A· te (āʹ tē), n. the Greek goddess of blind recklessness, later regarded as an aveng-ing goddess.
–ate1, suffi x. 1 of or having to do with, as in collegiate. 2 having; containing, as in compassionate. 3 having the form of; like, as in stellate. 4 become, as in maturate. 5 cause to be, as in alienate.
6 produce, as in ulcerate. 7 supply or treat with, as in aerate. 8 combine with, as in oxygenate. [< L –atus, –atum, pp.
endings]
–ate2, suffi x. Chem. a salt formed by the action of an ——ic acid on a base, as in sulfate. [special use of –ate1]
–ate3, suffi x. offi ce, rule, or condition of, as in caliphate, magistrate. [< L –atus, from 4th declension nouns]
A team, the best, most qualifi ed group available for a usually diffi cult task.
at· el· ier (atʹ әl yā), n. workshop; studio.
[< F, orig., pile of chips, < OF astele chip, ult. < L astula]
a· the· ism (āʹ thi iz әm), n. 1 belief that there is no God. 2 godless living. [< F,
< Gk. atheos denying the gods < a– with-out + theos a god] —aʹ the· ist, n.
a· the· is· tic (ā´ thi isʹ tik), a· the· is· ti· cal (–tә kәl), adj. of atheism or atheists.
—a´ the· isʹ tical· ly, adv.
A· the· na (ә thēʹ nә), A· the· ne (–nē), n.
Greek goddess of wisdom, arts, indus-tries, and prudent warfare, identifi ed with the Roman goddess Minerva. Also, Pallas, Pallas Athena.
ath· e· nae· um, ath· e· ne· um (ath´ ә nēʹ әm), n. 1 scientifi c or literary club. 2 reading room; library.
Ath· ens (athʹ әnz), n. capital of Greece, in the SE part. Athens was famous in ancient times for its art and literature.
—A· theʹ ni· an, adj., n.
a· thirst (ә thėrstʹ ), adj. 1 thirsty. 2 eager.
ath· lete (athʹ lēt), n. person trained in exercises of physical strength, speed,
and skill, esp. one who competes. [< L
< Gk., < athlon prize]
athlete’s foot, Am. a contagious skin dis-ease of the feet, caused by a fungus.
ath· let· ic (ath letʹ ik), adj. 1 active and strong. 2 of, like, or suited to an ath-lete. 3 for ahtletes. 4 having to do with active games and sports. —ath· letʹ i-cal· ly, adv.
ath· let· i· cism (ath letʹ ә siz әm), n. 1 the practice of athletics. 2 athletic quality.
ath· let· ics (ath letʹ iks), n. 1 (usually pl.) exercises of strength, speed, and skill;
active games and sports: athletics include baseball and basketball. 2 (usually as sing.) the principles of athletic train-ing: athletics is recommended for every student.
at-home (әt hōmʹ ), n. an informal recep-tion, usually in the aft ernoon.
–athon or a-thon, combining form, involving endurance, especially of a dif-fi cult or exhausting event: a six-day sale-athon; a walkathon to raise money for the hospital.
a· thwart (ә thwôrtʹ), adv. crosswise;
across from side to side. —prep. 1 across.
2 across the line or course of. 3 in oppo-sition to; against.
a· tilt (ә tiltʹ ), adj., adv. tilted.
a· tin· gle (ә tingʹ gәl), adj. tingling.
–ation, suffi x. 1 act or state of ——ing, as in admiration. 2 condition or state of being ——ed, as in agitation. 3 result of
——ing, as in civilization. [< L –atio]
–ative, suffi x. 1 tending to, as in talkative.
2 having to do with, as in qualitative.
[< L –ativus]
At· lan· ta (at lanʹ tә), n. the capital of Georgia, in the NW part.
At· lan· tic (at lanʹ tik), n. ocean east of North and South America, extending to Europe and Africa. —adj. 1 of, on, or near the Atlantic Ocean. 2 of or on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. 3 having to do with NATO and its member nations.
At· lan· tis (at lanʹ tis), n. legendary sunken island in the Atlantic.
at· las (atʹ lәs), n. 1 book of maps. 2 book of plates or tables illustrating any sub-ject. 3 Atlas, Gk. Legend. giant who sup-ported the heavens on his shoulders.
Atlas Mountains, mountain range in NW Africa.
ATM, automatic teller machine
at· mos· phere (atʹ mәs fi r), n. 1 air that surrounds the earth; the air. 2 air in any given place: a damp atmosphere. 3 mass of gases that surrounds any celestial body. 4 unit of pressure equal to 14.69 pounds per square inch. 5 surrounding infl uence. [< NL < Gk. atmos vapor + sphaira sphere]
at· mos· pher· ic (at´ mәs ferʹ ik), adj. 1 of,
at· mos· pher· ic (at´ mәs ferʹ ik), adj. 1 of,