heteroatom

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noun

Any atom which is not carbon or hydrogen.

OriginEnglish atom ← Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros) ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
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Meanings

nounheteroatom (plural heteroatoms)

plural heteroatoms

  1. chemistryAny atom which is not carbon or hydrogen.
  2. chemistryAny atom in a heterocyclic ring (or other structure normally built of carbon atoms) that is not a carbon atom.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Englishatom
  7. Englishheteroatom

From hetero- + atom.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish heteroatomi
  • heteroatominon-carbon atom in a carbon structure
German Heteroatom
  • Heteroatomnon-carbon atom in a carbon structure
Korean 헤테로원자
  • 헤테로원자 (heterowonja)non-carbon atom in a carbon structure
Spanish heteroátomo
  • heteroátomonon-carbon atom in a carbon structure
Cite this entry
APA

heteroatom. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteroatom

MLA

“heteroatom.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteroatom. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heteroatom,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteroatom.

Source: heteroatom on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.