- Atlas
- Atlas At"las, n.; pl. {Atlases}. [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. ?, ?,
one of the older family of gods, who bears up the pillars of
heaven; also Mt. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar
of heaven. It is from the root of tlh^nai to bear. See
{Tolerate}.]
1. One who sustains a great burden.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Anat.) The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the head, whence the name. [1913 Webster]
3. A collection of maps in a volume;
Note: supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas supporting the world, prefixed to some collections. This name is said to have been first used by Mercator, the celebrated geographer, in the 16th century. [1913 Webster]
4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject. [1913 Webster]
5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from or arrangement; as, an historical atlas. [1913 Webster]
6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; -- called also {atlas folio}. [1913 Webster]
7. A drawing paper of large size. See under {Paper}, n. [1913 Webster]
{Atlas powder}, see {Atlas powder} in the vocabulary; a blasting compound containing nitroglycerin. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
