atmospheric

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adjective at·mo·spher·ic \ ˌat-mə-ˈsfir-ik , -ˈsfer- \

Definition of atmospheric

1 a :of, relating to, or occurring in the atmosphere

atmospheric dust

b :resembling the atmosphere :airy

2 :having, marked by, or contributing aesthetic or emotional atmosphere

an atmospheric inn

; also :marked by an emphasis on impression or tone

—

atmospherically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See atmospheric defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of atmospheric from the Web

For the next 15 minutes, an atmospheric intervention seemed to take over, as the clouds continued to part, so spectators in Naperville could enjoy the rare celestial show.

— Naperville Sun, "Eclipse viewing at Naper Settlement draws more than 1,400 people," 21 Aug. 2017
The music was atmospheric, slightly minimalist and even a bit Impressionistic at times.

— janelle gelfand, Cincinnati.com, "Chamber Orchestra's celestial concert is out of this world," 15 Aug. 2017
Artists there depicted South Pacific sea life, Amazonian plant formations, and wave patterns on Kenya's Lake Turkana, printing them in mineral hues, atmospheric colors, and dusty tones on velvet and linen.

— kim cook, chicagotribune.com, "Curtain's up: Fall decor takes the style stage," 8 Aug. 2017
In the blistering summer, an atmospheric lid traps haze, sometimes darkened by mountain forest fires.

— scott smith, The Seattle Times, "California farm region plagued by dirty air looks to Trump," 20 July 2017
Matter ejected by them—particularly sulphur dioxide, which reacts with atmospheric gases to form sulphate aerosols—reflects sunlight back into space, cooling the air beneath.

— The Economist, "VolcanologyEvents in Iceland explain years of famine in Europe’s Dark Ages," 18 July 2017
The moon above the stage is particularly appropriate in this year's exhibit, because other artists also opt for atmospheric effects and sometimes nocturnal settings.

— mike giuliano, Howard County Times, "Ellicott City is ready for its portrait," 18 July 2017
Mars has an atmospheric pressure of less than one percent of Earth's atmosphere.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "NASA Admits It Probably Can't Put a Person on Mars in the 2030s," 14 July 2017
The data could help shed light on atmospheric mixing and the behavior of waves in the stratosphere that play a role in weather on Earth’s surface.

— kai sinclair, Science | AAAS, "Glider aims for new heights and rare scientific data," 10 July 2017

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

First Known Use of atmospheric

1722

ATMOSPHERIC Defined for English Language Learners

atmospheric

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adjective

Definition of atmospheric for English Language Learners

: of or relating to the atmosphere of the Earth or another planet
: creating a pleasant or exciting mood or feeling

ATMOSPHERIC Defined for Kids

atmospheric

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adjective at·mo·spher·ic \ ˌat-mə-ˈsfir-ik , -ˈsfer- \

Definition of atmospheric for Students

:of or relating to the atmosphere

atmospheric gases

Learn More about atmospheric

See words that rhyme with atmospheric Spanish Central: Translation of atmospheric Nglish: Translation of atmospheric for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of atmospheric for Arabic speakers

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atmospheric

Definition of atmospheric

atmospherically

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atmospheric

Definition of atmospheric for English Language Learners

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atmospheric

Definition of atmospheric for Students

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