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

The Science of Siblings is a new series exploring the ways our siblings can influence us, from our money and our mental health all the way down to our very molecules. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024

Aging is an accumulation of chemical damage to the molecules inside our cells, which damages the cells themselves, and therefore the tissue, and then eventually us as an organism. —Jessica Dulong, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Trap the odor molecules Back to the science: There are a few different available products that can easily trap smelly molecules. —Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Key Takeaways Levels of Lac-Phe, an anti-hunger molecule, increase after taking the diabetes drug metformin. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2024

The researchers can even distinguish between molecules with the same atomic makeup. —Eve Thomas, WIRED, 3 Apr. 2024

While this layer of the atmosphere does technically reach the temperatures stated in the post, there are not enough air molecules in the thermosphere to transfer significant amounts of this heat to an object, according to researchers. —Kim Breen, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

At the Human Milk Institute, based out of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, researchers study the components of milk and assess the therapeutic potential of milk molecules. —Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 29 Mar. 2024

Interestingly, successful gene therapies often use RNA molecules to modify DNA rather than directly manipulating it. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Mar. 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