atomique

atomic

adjective ah-toh-MEEK Rare

Also means

nuclear

Usage Note

Atomique covers both the scientific sense ('atomic structure') and the colloquial/journalistic sense of nuclear weapons — bombe atomique ('atomic bomb'). It is invariable for gender: une énergie atomique. The noun atome and the prefix atomo- are related forms learners will encounter in scientific contexts.

Examples

"La bombe atomique a changé l'histoire."

Natural Translation

The atomic bomb changed history.

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