Meanings
- pluralplural onlyRadio interference caused by pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere as the result of lightning and other events (both natural and man-made)
Other projects in progress at CRPL involve the study of audiofrequency tellurics (current induced in the earth) and earth conductivity measurements using atmospherics.
1964, United States. National Bureau of Standards, Technical News Bulletin, volumes 48-49, page 131 - pluralplural onlyElements of the overall background atmosphere.
The indefinite object was drawing away from us at a high speed and eventually disappeared into a veil of atmospherics, very much as a headlight disappearing into a fog.
1965, James Holledge, Flying Saucers Over Australia, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 29 - pluralplural onlyThe ambiance of a physical location (e.g., retail shop) or a sensory performance (e.g., music).
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna crackling or hissing noise caused by electrical interference
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀτμός (atmós)
- Frenchatmo-
- Ancient Greekσφαῖρᾰ (sphaîră)
- Latinsphaera
- Late Latinsphēra
- Frenchatmosphère
- Englishatmosphere
- Englishatmospherics
From atmosphere + -ics.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
atmospherics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atmospherics
“atmospherics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atmospherics. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “atmospherics,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atmospherics.
Source: atmospherics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.