Definition: atlas

Search dictionary for

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

Atlas
     n 1: (Greek mythology) a Titan who was forced by Zeus to bear the
          sky on his shoulders [syn: Atlas]
     2: a collection of maps in book form [syn: book of maps, map
        collection]
     3: the 1st cervical vertebra [syn: atlas vertebra]
     4: a figure of a man used as a supporting column [syn: telamon]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Atlas \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;

   Note: 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.
Atlas \At"las\, n. [Ar., smooth.]
   A rich kind of satin manufactured in India. --Brande & C.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

ATLAS

   Abbreviated Test Language for Avionics Systems