atlas

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

3a : 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\ ət-ˈlan-(ˌ)tēz

, at-\ : a male figure used like a caryatid as a supporting column or pilaster

— called also telamon

Word History of Atlas Example Sentences Learn More about atlas

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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.

Examples of atlas in a Sentence

a road atlas of the U.S.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stay prepared with a road atlas, like the classic Rand McNally version ($14.95). — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The ultimate van life shopping guide," 14 Nov. 2018 The atlas also honed his ability to find countries on the map. — Allie Caren, Washington Post, "Meet the 6-year-old who can name every country — in alphabetical order," 5 July 2018 Nothing prevents or discourages girls from vacuuming up the details of an atlas. — Heather Mac Donald, WSJ, "Sorry, Feminists, Men Are Better at Scrabble," 16 Nov. 2018 That's still the only rebranding to stay permanently in the road atlas—unless this tiny Florida town is serious about being named for condiment. — Ken Jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "Mayo, Florida Was Just Renamed for a Different Condiment," 24 Sep. 2018 There's benzoin and rose honey in there, plus incense absolute, ylang ylang, cumin, atlas cedar, and sandalwood. — Sarah Wu, Glamour, "I Replaced My $215 Perfume With This $6 Body Wash," 19 Oct. 2018 One example: a cell atlas that maps out all the different types of cells in the body, which could help researchers create various types of drugs. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Pledge $3 Billion to End Disease," 22 Sep. 2016 For his 6th birthday in March, Madden’s godmother got him an atlas. — Allie Caren, Washington Post, "Meet the 6-year-old who can name every country — in alphabetical order," 5 July 2018 Image In a mirroring of Norse legends, a mid-1300s Medici atlas showed an archipelago floating in the middle of the Atlantic. — Gisela Williams, New York Times, "Where to Shop (and Eat) in São Miguel, Portugal," 9 May 2018

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.