atomic clock

noun

: a precision clock that depends for its operation on an electrical oscillator regulated by the natural vibration frequencies of an atomic system (such as a beam of cesium atoms)

Examples of atomic clock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But barring those machines, checking your watch now and again for precision against an atomic clock is a window into its invisible world. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2025 The ball was lowered by hand until the mid-1990s; now it is timed electronically using an atomic clock based in Colorado (but New York City's mayor and other special guests still get the honor of pushing the ceremonial button). Rachel Treisman, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024 At its center are atomic clocks, which measure the passage of time by tracking the quantum transitions of electrons. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2024 Projects have been proposed to use an orbital constellation of optical atomic clocks to support the search for dark matter and dark energy, detect low-frequency gravitational waves with unprecedented accuracy and probe the fundamental limits of general relativity. Paul Lipman, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for atomic clock 

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of atomic clock was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near atomic clock

Cite this Entry

“Atomic clock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atomic%20clock. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

atomic clock

noun
: an extremely exact clock that depends for its operation on the natural vibrations of atoms (as of cesium)

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