atomize

• atomise (non-Oxford British English)

From atom +‎ -ize.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈætəmaɪz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈætəmaɪz/, [-ɾə-]
• Rhymes: -ætəmaɪz
• Hyphenation: a‧tom‧ize

atomize (third-person singular simple present atomizes, present participle atomizing, simple past and past participle atomized)

2. (transitive) To separate or reduce into atoms.
4. (transitive) To make into a fine spray.

   Near-synonyms: aerosolize, vaporize

6. (transitive) To fragment; to break into small pieces or concepts.

   Near-synonyms: anatomize, analyze, scrutinize

   • 1979, Gould, Stephen J., and Richard C. Lewontin. "The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 205: p. 585:

     An organism is then atomized into 'traits' and these traits are explained as structures optimally designed by natural selection for their functions.

8. (chiefly politics, of people) To deprive of community and political capital.

   Synonym: disenfranchise

   Coordinate term: pacify

   Near-synonym: disunite

10. (transitive) To bomb with nuclear weapons.

    Near-synonyms: pulverize, annihilate

• dissociate

atomize

1. (reintegrationist norm) inflection of atomizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative

atomize

1. inflection of atomizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative