atomic clock
noun
: a precision clock that depends for its operation on an electrical oscillator regulated by the natural vibration frequencies of an atomic system (such as a beam of cesium atoms)
Examples of atomic clock in a Sentence
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Optical atomic clocks, quantum RF sensors and AI inspired by the rules of quantum physics are no longer on the horizon.
—
Paul Lipman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Advertisement The shortest day ever recorded since atomic clocks went into operation in the 1950s occurred last year, on July 5, according to Date and Time, when the Earth shaved off 1.66 milliseconds.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2025
Closer to home, physicists study vibrations of atoms, such as those used in atomic clocks, to look for deviations from pure constancy.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 May 2025
The payloads aboard this Dragon cargo mission—the 32nd by SpaceX—include normal things like fresh food (exactly 1,262 tortillas), biomedical and pharmaceutical experiments, and the technical demonstration of a new atomic clock.
—Abigail Bassett, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
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Paul Lipman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Advertisement The shortest day ever recorded since atomic clocks went into operation in the 1950s occurred last year, on July 5, according to Date and Time, when the Earth shaved off 1.66 milliseconds.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 July 2025
Closer to home, physicists study vibrations of atoms, such as those used in atomic clocks, to look for deviations from pure constancy.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 May 2025
The payloads aboard this Dragon cargo mission—the 32nd by SpaceX—include normal things like fresh food (exactly 1,262 tortillas), biomedical and pharmaceutical experiments, and the technical demonstration of a new atomic clock.
—Abigail Bassett, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atomic clock
Cite this Entry
“Atomic clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomic%20clock. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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