atomicity
C2Academic / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The state or property of being composed of atoms.
1. In computer science, the property of an operation being indivisible and irreducible (e.g., in database transactions). 2. In chemistry, the number of atoms in a molecule. 3. In concurrency, the condition of a series of actions occurring as a single, uninterruptible unit.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical/scientific term. Its meaning shifts significantly between domains: from the literal chemical sense to a metaphorical computing sense describing transactional integrity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Usage is uniformly technical.
Connotations
Neutral, precise, and domain-specific in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, confined to specialised fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The atomicity of [NOUN PHRASE][NOUN PHRASE] ensures atomicityatomicity is [ADJECTIVE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in tech sectors discussing database integrity: 'The system guarantees atomicity for all financial transactions.'
Academic
Common in computer science and chemistry papers: 'The research focuses on the atomicity of concurrent processes.'
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in database design, concurrent programming, and theoretical chemistry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- []
American English
- []
adverb
British English
- []
American English
- []
adjective
British English
- An atomicity guarantee is crucial.
- The system's atomicity properties were tested.
American English
- An atomicity guarantee is critical.
- The system's atomicity properties were validated.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- []
- []
- In chemistry, the atomicity of ozone (O₃) is three.
- The programmer explained the need for data atomicity.
- The database management system ensures atomicity, so transactions either complete fully or not at all.
- The atomicity of the molecule was determined using mass spectrometry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ATOMic unITY: like an atom is a single unit, atomicity means operations are treated as one unbreakable unit.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRANSACTIONS ARE ATOMS (indivisible, fundamental building blocks).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'атомность' in computing contexts; use 'атомарность'. In chemistry, 'атомность' is correct.
- Do not confuse with 'атомистичность' (atomicity in philosophy of science).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'atomicity' to mean 'related to nuclear weapons' (that's 'atomic' as an adjective).
- Confusing it with 'automation'.
- Pronouncing it as /eɪˈtɒmɪsɪti/.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'atomicity' most likely to refer to the number of atoms in a molecule?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised technical term used primarily in computer science and chemistry.
In chemistry, it's a literal count of atoms. In computing, it's a metaphorical property describing an operation that cannot be split.
No, the word itself is a noun. The related adjective is 'atomic'.
No standard verb form exists. Related actions are described with phrases like 'ensure atomicity' or 'make atomic'.