Main Entry: ¹quan·tum

Pronunciation: \ˈkwän-təm\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural quan·ta \ˈkwän-tə\

Etymology: Latin, neuter of quantus how much

Date: 1567

1 a : quantity, amount b : portion, part c : gross quantity : bulk
2 a : any of the very small increments or parcels into which many forms of energy are subdivided b : any of the small subdivisions of a quantized physical magnitude (as magnetic moment)