At"las , n. [Ar., smooth.]
A rich kind of satin manufactured in India. Brande & C.
At"las (&?;), n.;
pl. Atlases (&?;). [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. &?;, &?;, one of the older
family of gods, who bears up the
pillars of heaven; also Mt. Atlas, in W. Africa, regarded as the pillar
of heaven. It is from the root of &?;
to bear. See
Tolerate.]
1. One who sustains a great burden.
2. (Anat.)
The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the
head, whence the name.
3. A collection of maps in a volume; -- supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas supporting the world, prefixed to some collections. This name is said
to have been first used by Mercator, the celebrated geographer,
in the 16th century.
4. A volume of
plates illustrating any subject.
5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular
from or arrangement; as, an historical atlas.
6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of
maps; -- called also atlas
folio.
7. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n.
Atlas
powder, a nitroglycerin blasting compound of pasty consistency and great explosive power.
Hear it pronounced