ATOMISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does atomise mean? 

• ATOMISE (verb)
  The verb ATOMISE has 3 senses:

1. spray very finely

2. strike at with firepower or bombs

3. break up into small particles

  Familiarity information: ATOMISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATOMISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they atomise    ... he / she / it atomises   
Past simple: atomised   
Past participle: atomised   
-ing form: atomising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spray very finely

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

atomise; atomize

Context example:

atomize perfume

Hypernyms (to "atomise" is one way to...):

spray (scatter in a mass or jet of droplets)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

atom ((physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element)

atomiser (a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Strike at with firepower or bombs

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

atomise; atomize; nuke; zap

Context example:

zap the enemy

Hypernyms (to "atomise" is one way to...):

bomb; bombard (throw bombs at or attack with bombs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

atomisation (annihilation by reducing something to atoms)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Break up into small particles

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

atomise; atomize

Context example:

the fine powder had been atomized by air

Hypernyms (to "atomise" is one way to...):

break up; fragment; fragmentise; fragmentize (break or cause to break into pieces)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

atom ((nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything)

atom ((physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element)

atomisation (separating something into fine particles)

atomiser (a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist)