atmospheric
/ˌæt.məˈsfer.ɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Related to the atmosphere or the air around the Earth. It can also describe the pressure of the air.
- Atmospheric pressure changes with altitude.
- The scientist measured atmospheric conditions.
- 2.
Creating a mood or strong feeling, especially in art, films, music, or places.
- The restaurant had an atmospheric candlelit feel.
- The movie's music made the scene more atmospheric.
Adinary Nuance
Use atmospheric when you mean something that creates a mood, or when you mean air-related. It is more specific than moody, which often suggests changing emotions. It is also different from atmospheric pressure, which is the scientific use and not about style or feeling.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- có không khí
- Spanish
- atmosférico
- Chinese
- 有气氛的
- Japanese
- 雰囲気のある
- Korean
- 분위기 있는
Etymology
Atmospheric comes from atmosphere, which came into English from Greek through French in the 17th century. The adjective has been used since the 19th century.
Common phrases
atmospheric pressurean atmospheric scenean atmospheric filman atmospheric setting
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is atmospheric a positive word?
- Usually, yes. It often means a place or work has a strong, pleasant mood.
- Can I use atmospheric for weather?
- Yes, but mainly in scientific contexts, like atmospheric pressure or atmospheric conditions.
- What is the difference between atmospheric and moody?
- Atmospheric usually describes a place, scene, or work. Moody often describes a person, face, or changing feelings.
- Is atmospheric common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially in descriptions of environment, art, film, and science topics.