molecule

noun

mol·​e·​cule ˈmä-li-ˌkyül 

1

: the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties (see property sense 1a) of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms (see atom sense 1a)

a molecule of water

a molecule of oxygen

2

: a tiny bit : particle

a molecule of political honesty

—Time

Synonyms

• atom
• bit
• crumb
• dribble
• fleck
• flyspeck
• grain
• granule
• morsel
• mote
• nubbin
• nugget
• particle
• patch
• scrap
• scruple
• snip
• snippet
• speck
• tittle

Examples of molecule in a Sentence

There is not a molecule of evidence to support these charges.

not a molecule of sense in that girl

Recent Examples on the Web

On the other hand, smaller molecules that can go through your skin also have benefits. —Cat Matta, Parents, 16 July 2024

At their core, b cells produce antibody molecules that can destroy invading viruses and bacteria. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 15 July 2024

And, within a chromosome, parts that are physically closer to each other on the molecule are more likely to interact than those that are farther apart. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 11 July 2024

At the biochemistry division of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Singer provided key findings in matching amino acids to specific coding in RNA, the messenger molecule that guides most biological functions. —Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

French molécule, from New Latin molecula, diminutive of Latin moles mass

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

molecule

noun

mol·​e·​cule ˈmäl-i-ˌkyü(ə)l 

1

: the smallest particle of a substance having all the characteristics of the substance

a molecule of water

a molecule of oxygen

2

: a very small bit : particle

Medical Definition

molecule

noun

mol·​e·​cule ˈmäl-i-ˌkyü(ə)l 

: the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms