DIATOM
Di"a*tom, n. Etym: [Gr. Diatomous.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use.
2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle. The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of protoplasm. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.
DIATOMIC Di`a*tom"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Containing two atoms. (b) Having two replaceable atoms or radicals.
DIATOMOUS
Di*at"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Diatom.] (Min.)
Defn: Having a single, distinct, diagonal cleavage; — said of crystals. Mohs.
DIATONIC
Di`a*ton"ic, a. Etym: [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. diatonique. See
Tone.] (Mus.)
Defn: Pertaining to the scale of eight tones, the eighth of which is the octave of the first. Diatonic scale (Mus.), a scale consisting of eight sounds with seven intervals, of which two are semitones and five are whole tones; a modern major or minor scale, as distinguished from the chromatic scale.
DIATONICALLY
Di`a*ton"ic*al*ly, adv.