Dictionary
atom'ic weight'
Chem.
the average weight of an atom of an element, formerly based on the weight of one hydrogen atom taken as a unit or on
1/16 the weight of an oxygen atom, but after 1961 based on
1/12 the weight of the carbon-12 atom.
Abbr.: at. wt.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.