Wordwyrt

molecule

/ˈmɒləkˌjuːl/MO-luh-kyool
/ˈmɑləkˌjul/MAH-luh-kyool

Meaninga little mass

Common meaning: a tiny group of atoms bonded together

Journey through time

  1. Latinmōlēs‘a huge mass, burden’
  2. Englishmolecule‘a tiny group of atoms bonded together’ · today

molec also in: molestdemolish

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin mōlēs ‘a huge mass, burden’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry mōlēs, p. 1157 · dictionary scan

Roots

  • mōlēs Latin “a huge mass, burden”

Related words

demolishmolest

Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app