| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | smallest part of something |
| Synonyms: | bit, crumb, dot, fragment, grain, iota, jot, minimum, mite, modicum, molecule, morsel, mote, ounce, particle, scintilla, scrap, shred, smidgen, speck, spot, tittle, trace, whit |
| Notes: | atom comes from Greek atomos 'uncut, indivisible' - based on a- 'not' and temneir 'to cut' and it is the smallest unit of matter that retains the characteristics of an element; a molecule is the smallest unit of matter that retains the characteristics of a compound |
| Main Entry: | crumb |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | tiny bit, morsel |
| Synonyms: | atom, dab, dash, dram, drop, grain, iota, jot, mite, ounce, particle, pinch, scrap, seed, shred, sliver, smidgen, snippet, soupçon, speck |
| Main Entry: | dot |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | tiny mark, drop |
| Synonyms: | atom, circle, dab, droplet, fleck, flyspeck, grain, iota, jot, mite, mote, particle, period, pinpoint, point, speck, spot, tittle |
| Main Entry: | fragment |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | part, chip |
| Synonyms: | ace, atom, bit, bite, chunk, crumb, cut, end, fraction, gob, grain, hunk, iota, job*, lump*, minim, morsel, particle, piece, portion, remnant, scrap, share, shiver, shred, slice, sliver, smithereen |
| Notes: | a part is any of the components of a whole; a portion is a part allotted to or regarded as belonging to someone; a piece is a part separated from the whole; a division is a part formed by classifying, cutting, partitioning - and so is a section, though it is generally smaller; a segment is a part separated along natural lines of division; a fragment is a small part, usually broken off |
| Antonyms: | entirety, total, whole |
| Main Entry: | grain |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | seed, piece |
| Synonyms: | atom, bit, cereal, corn, crumb, drop, fragment, granule, grist, iota, jot, kernel, mite, modicum, molecule, morsel, mote, ounce, particle, pellet, scintilla, scrap, scruple, smidgen, spark, speck, tittle, trace, whit |
| Main Entry: | iota |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | small bit |
| Synonyms: | atom, crumb, grain, hint, infinitesimal, jot, mite, molecule, nucleus, ounce, particle, ray, scintilla, scrap, smidgen, speck, trace, whit |
| Antonyms: | lot |
| Main Entry: | kernel |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | seed, essence |
| Synonyms: | atom, bit, center, core, crux, fruit, germ, gist, grain, heart, hub, keynote, marrow, matter, meat, morsel, nub, nubbin, nut, part, piece, pith, root, substance, upshot |
| Notes: | a kernel is the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain, while a colonel is a commissioned military rank |
| Main Entry: | minimum |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lowest amount |
| Synonyms: | atom, bottom, dab, depth, dot, gleam, grain, hair, iota, jot, least, lowest, margin, modicum, molecule, nadir, narrowest, particle, pittance, point, scintilla, scruple, shadow, slightest, smallest, smidgen, soupçon, spark, speck, trifle, whit |
| Antonyms: | largest, maximum, most |
| Main Entry: | modicum |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | bit, small amount |
| Synonyms: | atom, crumb, dash, drop, fraction, fragment, grain, inch, iota, jot, little, minim, mite, molecule, ounce, particle, pinch, scrap, shred, smidge, speck, tinge, touch, trifle, whit |
| Antonyms: | lot |