- pronunciation:
- aet
lihs
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
(cap.) a giant in Greek mythology who had to support the heavens on his shoulders.
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| definition 2: |
a book of maps, tables, or charts.
We turned to the page in the atlas that showed a map of Canada. |
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Greek mythology tells of a giant whose punishment was to hold up the universe on his shoulders. This giant's name was
Atlas. Artists drew pictures of Atlas holding up a globe that was meant to be the heavens. In the 1600s, a mapmaker named Mercator used such a picture on the cover of his book of maps. A collection of maps became known as an "atlas."