atlas
|at-las|
/ˈætləs/
held-up/support; book of maps
Etymology
'atlas' originates from Greek and Latin, specifically the Greek proper name 'Ἄτλας' (Atlas), where the name referred to the mythological Titan.
'atlas' changed from the Greek mythological name 'Atlas' to a title used by early modern cartographers (notably in the 16th century) for collections of maps, and then generalized to mean any book of maps; the anatomical use for the first cervical vertebra arose later by analogy to the Titan's role of supporting the head.
Initially, it meant 'the Titan who held up the sky'; over time it evolved to also mean 'a collection of maps' and, by analogy, 'the first cervical vertebra that supports the skull.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a book or collection of maps or charts.
She bought an atlas to plan her trip across Europe.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the first cervical vertebra (C1) that supports the skull.
The X-ray revealed a fracture in the atlas.
Synonyms
Noun 3
in mythology, a Titan condemned to hold up the sky; used as a proper name.
In the myth, Atlas was punished to hold the heavens on his shoulders.
Last updated: 2025/11/12 01:16