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Feb 10, 2010
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at•mos•phere



Pronunciation: (at'mus-fēr"), [key]
—n., v., -phered, -pher•ing.

—n.
1. the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth; the air.
2. this medium at a given place.
3. Astron.the gaseous envelope surrounding a heavenly body.
4. Chem.any gaseous envelope or medium.
5. a conventional unit of pressure, the normal pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch (101.3 kilopascals), equal to the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 29.92 in. (760 mm) high. Abbr.: atm.
6. a surrounding or pervading mood, environment, or influence: an atmosphere of impending war; a very tense atmosphere.
7. the dominant mood or emotional tone of a work of art, as of a play or novel: the chilly atmosphere of a ghost story.
8. a distinctive quality, as of a place; character: The old part of town has lots of atmosphere.

—v.t.
to give an atmosphere to: The author had cleverly atmosphered the novel for added chills.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

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