Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Modern Latin
Origin: atmosphaera, from Greek atmos 'liquid in the air, vapor' + Latin sphaera 'sphere'

atmosphere

 noun
     
at‧mo‧sphere W2
1 [uncountable and countable] the feeling that an event or place gives you:
The hotel had a lovely relaxed atmosphere.
The atmosphere at home was rather tense.
atmosphere of
An atmosphere of optimism dominated the conference.
2 [uncountable] if a place or event has atmosphere, it is interesting:
The castle was centuries old and full of atmosphere.
The match was lacking in atmosphere.
3HA

the atmosphere

the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
4 [countable] the mixture of gases that surround a planet
5 [countable usually singular] the air inside a room:
a smoky atmosphere
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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