quantum

C2+ Topic:Numbers & Quantity

US /ˈkwɑntəm/ UK /ˈkwɒntəm/ See IPA manual

noun adj

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

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

# quantum

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**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

markdown

quantum

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback