quantum

C2+ Topic:Numbers & Quantity

US /ˈkwɑntəm/ UK /ˈkwɒntəm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a discrete quantity of energy, or the smallest possible amount

A photon carries a single quantum of light energy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a discrete quantity of... amount quantity portion measure unit

Word family

Derived forms quantaquantizequantal

Related forms quantity quantify quantitative

Simplified etymology

Quantum comes from Latin quantus “how big?” or “how much?” and originally meant a quantity or amount. Around 1900 Max Planck introduced it in physics for a minimum discrete amount of energy; quantum leap later broadened from an abrupt change between energy states to a sudden major advance.

Etymology

From Latin quantum ('how much'), neuter of quantus ('how great, how much'); adopted as a physics term by Max Planck.

quantum Latin quantus Latin quam Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Numbers & Quantity Physics

External links

# quantum

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkwɑntəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkwɒntəm/

## Meanings
1. a discrete quantity of energy, or the smallest possible amount

## Examples
- A photon carries a single quantum of light energy.

## Synonyms
- amount
- quantity
- portion
- measure
- unit

## Derived Forms
- quanta
- quantize
- quantal

## Related Forms
- quantity
- quantify
- quantitative

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: quantum
- Root: quantus
- Root: quam

## Etymology
From Latin quantum ('how much'), neuter of quantus ('how great, how much'); adopted as a physics term by Max Planck.

## AI Etymology
Quantum is from Latin quantum ('how much'), neuter of quantus ('how great, how much'); adopted as a physics term by Max Planck. Important recorded forms include quantum (Latin), quantus (Latin), and quam (Latin). The modern sense follows that older lexical line closely. In current use it covers a discrete quantity of energy, or the smallest possible amount. The wider family includes derived forms such as quanta, quantize, and quantal and related words such as quantity, quantify, and quantitative.

## Topics
- Numbers & Quantity
- Physics

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