Substance
molecule Audio
mol·e·cule [ mol-uh-kyool ]
Etymology:
Latin moles = mass, -cula = diminutive suffix
Definitions related to molecule:
  • An aggregate of two or more atoms in a defined arrangement held together by chemical bonds.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. Molecules are made up of one or more atoms. If they contain more than one atom, the atoms can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.