atmosphere

UK: /ˈætməsfɪə^r/ US: /ˈætməsˌfɪr/ ,(at′məs fēr′)

Inflections of 'atmosphere' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

atmospheres

v 3rd person singular

atmosphering

v pres p

atmosphered

v past

atmosphered

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

at•mos•phere /ˈætməsˌfɪr/  n. 

1. Physics [countable]
   • [usually singular; usually: the + ~] the gases surrounding the earth;
     the air.
   • the gases surrounding a planet, esp. the earth;
     air.
2. Physics [countable] (in science) a unit of pressure, equal to the normal pressure of the air at sea level, about 14.7 pounds per square inch.
3. a surrounding mood that seems to fill a place, event, or situation:
   [countable] an atmosphere of tension filled the classroom.
4. a distinctive quality;
   character:
   [uncountable] The room has a cozy atmosphere.

at•mos•pher•ic /ˌætməsˈfɛrɪk, -ˈfɪr-/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

at•mos•phere  (at′məs fēr′), n., v., -phered, -pher•ing. 
n. 

1. Physics the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth;
   the air.
2. this medium at a given place.
3. Astronomy the gaseous envelope surrounding a heavenly body.
4. Chemistry any gaseous envelope or medium.
5. Physics 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. 

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

• Neo-Latin atmosphaera. See atmo-, -sphere
• 1630–40

at′mos•phere′less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

atmosphere / ˈætməsˌfɪə/ noun

1. the gaseous envelope surrounding the earth or any other celestial body
   See also troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere
2. the air or climate in a particular place: the atmosphere was thick with smoke
3. a general pervasive feeling or mood
4. the prevailing tone or mood of a novel, symphony, painting, or other work of art
5. any local gaseous environment or medium: an inert atmosphere
6. a unit of pressure; the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at 0°C at sea level. 1 atmosphere is equivalent to 101 325 newtons per square metre or 14.72 pounds per square inch
   Abbreviation: at, atm

ˌatmosˈpheric, ˌatmosˈpherical adjective

ˌatmosˈpherically adverb