atlas

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noun at·las \ ˈat-ləs \

Definition of atlas

1 capitalized :a Titan who for his part in the Titans' revolt against the gods is forced by Zeus to support the heavens on his shoulders

2 capitalized :one who bears a heavy burden

3 a :a bound collection of maps often including illustrations, informative tables, or textual matter

b :a bound collection of tables, charts, or plates

4 :the first vertebra of the neck

5 plural usually atlantes play \ət-ˈlan-(ˌ)tēz, at-\ :a male figure used like a caryatid as a supporting column or pilaster — called also telamon

See atlas defined for English-language learners

See atlas defined for kids

Examples of atlas in a Sentence

a road atlas of the U.S.

Recent Examples of atlas from the Web

More than a third of humanity, including 60 percent of Europeans and nearly 80 percent of North Americans, live under night skies too light-polluted to see the galaxy, scientists revealed in the newest atlas of the night sky, published last year.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Nature’s gift to Washingtonians: some of the last, best stargazing in the world," 28 Aug. 2017
The American designer, who has been in business since 1981, has a global presence that’s a virtual atlas of A-to-Z cities around the world, and regularly visits said stores to meet in person the women (and men) who buy his designs.

— mark holgate, Vogue, "From Aviator Sunglasses to All About Eve, Michael Kors Talks Influences," 25 Aug. 2017
Effects of climate warming, such as the changes in sea ice, are detailed in the atlas.

— yereth rosen, Alaska Dispatch News, "New Arctic Alaska marine atlas details ecosystem of the changing region," 7 Aug. 2017
The result is a remarkable atlas charting where New York has gone, and why.

— amy rose spiegel, New Republic, "Who Killed New York City?," 27 July 2017
Now, an atlas that traces the shapes of 182,000 leaves from 141 plant families and 75 locations around the world shows promise for refining scientists’ ability to read that story.

— heidi ledford, Scientific American, "Massive Database of 182,000 Leaves Is Helping Predict Plant Family Trees," 8 July 2017
Pl@ntNet is better at identifying plants than Chitwood’s atlas, says one of Bonnet's collaborators, computer scientist Alexis Joly of the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation in Montpellier.

— heidi ledford, Scientific American, "Massive Database of 182,000 Leaves Is Helping Predict Plant Family Trees," 8 July 2017
In his rental car, Long had two backpacks, ammunition, a paper atlas, clothes and a suitcase.

— kevin litten, NOLA.com, "See video released in fatal Baton Rouge police ambush," 30 June 2017
Dozens of experts and volunteers compiled the atlas over the course of five years, Morris writes.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Explore Ancient British Isles Hill Forts with a New Online Atlas," 24 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atlas.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History of atlas

In Greek mythology, giants ruled the world in an early age. Their rule was overthrown after a mighty battle with other gods. Atlas was one of these giants, and after their defeat, the story goes, he was forced to hold up the sky on his shoulders. In the 16th century, the Flemish mapmaker Gerardus Mercator published a collection of maps. On the title page he showed a picture of Atlas supporting his burden. Mercator gave the book the title Atlas. Later collections of maps included similar pictures of Atlas, and came to be called atlases.

Illustration of atlas

Origin and Etymology of atlas

Latin Atlant-, Atlas, from Greek

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1583

See Words from the same year

Other Cartography Terms

Robinson projection, benchmark, plat, projection, topography

ATLAS Defined for English Language Learners

atlas

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noun

Definition of atlas for English Language Learners

: a book of maps

ATLAS Defined for Kids

atlas

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noun at·las \ ˈat-ləs \

Definition of atlas for Students

:a book of maps

Medical Dictionary

atlas

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noun at·las \ ˈat-ləs \

medical Definition of atlas

:the first vertebra of the neck

Biographical Note for atlas

Atlas, Greek mythological character. In Greek legend Atlas was a Titan who took part in the revolt against the gods. As a punishment he was condemned to hold the heavens aloft forever. Atlas was usually represented as a human figure bearing the heavens or the celestial globe upon his shoulders.