molecule

noun

mol·e·cule | \ ˈmä-li-ˌkyül

Definition of molecule

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

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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 In 2017, scientists at Flagship Pioneering were exploring different kinds of ribonucleic acid, or RNA, focusing on an unusual form of the molecule that had a circular shape, rather than a linear strand with two ends. — BostonGlobe.com, "Flagship startup Laronde wants to make protein-based drugs inside the body with ‘endless RNA’," 10 May 2021 An unusual feature of the toxic molecule is the presence of bromine, which is scarce in lakes and rarely found in cyanobacteria. — Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "After more than 2 decades of searching, scientists finger cause of mass eagle deaths," 25 Mar. 2021 Tests of this molecule in mice showed a significant improvement in lung function compared with the existing treatment, a drug called nintedanib, made by drug company Boehringer Ingelheim. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, "Startup says A.I. helped it find treatment for rare lung disease in record time," 24 Feb. 2021 Now, about half of the anthocyanins in red cabbage could be turned into the blue P2 molecule, the team reports this week in Science Advances. — Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "A pigment from red cabbage could help turn your favorite foods blue," 9 Apr. 2021 Dying stars exhibit many complex molecules, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ethyl formate: the molecule that gives raspberries their scent. — Ethan Siegel, Forbes, "Was Life On Earth Brought Here From An Alien System?," 7 Apr. 2021 That molecule, of course, is DNA (or, in rare instances, RNA). — New York Times, "What Does It Mean to Be a Living Thing?," 24 Mar. 2021 The molecule is often times too large to effectively deliver hydration deep into skin layers. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Is Hyaluronic Acid?," 26 Feb. 2021 Mixing this molecule with aluminum ions led to complexes with three of the P2 molecules arranged around one aluminum ion like spokes on a wheel. — Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "A pigment from red cabbage could help turn your favorite foods blue," 9 Apr. 2021

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