atmosphere n
1. a particular environment or surrounding influence; "there was an atmosphere of excitement" [syn: ambiance, ambience]
2. a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade [syn: standard atmosphere, atm, standard pressure}]
3. the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: air]
4. the weather or climate at some place; "the atmosphere was thick with fog" [syn: atmospheric state]
5. the envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body
6. a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance" [syn: air, aura]

Atmosphere \At"mos*phere\, n. [Gr. ? vapor (akin to Skr. [=a]tman breath, soul, G. athem breath) + ? sphere: cf. F. atmosph[`e]re. See Sphere.]
1. (Physics) (a) The whole mass of a["e]riform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars. (b) Any gaseous envelope or medium. An atmosphere of cold oxygen. --Miller.
2. A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies. --Franklin.
3. The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 Ibs. to the sq. inch. Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres. --Lubbock.
4. Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition. The chillest of social atmospheres. --Hawthorne.
5. The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.

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An atmosphere (New Latin atmosphaera, created in the 17th century from Greek ἀτμός and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low. Some planets consist mainly of various gases, but only their outer layer is their atmosphere (see gas giants).

The term stellar atmosphere describes the outer region of a star, and typically includes the portion starting from the opaque photosphere outwards. Relatively low-temperature stars may form compound molecules in their outer atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere, which contains oxygen used by most organisms for respiration and carbon dioxide used by plants, algae and cyanobacteria for photosynthesis, also protects living organisms from genetic damage by solar ultraviolet radiation. Its current composition is the product of billions of years of biochemical modification of the paleoatmosphere by living organisms.

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