Definition of "atlas" in English

noun

1. A bound collection of maps often including tables, illustrations or other text.

2. A bound collection of tables, illustrations, etc. on any given subject.

3. (chiefly in anatomy, especially of the human body) A detailed visual conspectus of something of great and multi-faceted complexity, with its elements splayed so as to be presented in as discrete a manner as possible whilst retaining a realistic view of the whole.

   • An Anatomical Atlas of Vegetable Powders Designed as an Aid to the Microscopic Analysis of Powdered Foods and Drugs
   • 1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 55 (Totem Books, Icon Books; →ISBN Our perception of the body as the natural “space of the origin and distribution of disease”, a space determined by the anatomical atlas', is merely one of the various ways in which medicine has formed its “knowledge”.

4. (differential geometry, topology) A family of coordinate charts that cover a manifold.

5. (anatomy) The uppermost vertebra of the cervical spine in the neck in humans and some other animals.

6. One who supports a heavy burden; mainstay.

7. (architecture) A figure of a man used as a column.

8. (paper) A sheet of paper measuring 26 inches by 34 inches.

9. (computer graphics) An image or texture containing a number of other images or textures, so as to reduce the cost of loading them separately.

   • a glyph atlas used in font rendering
   • a texture atlas

noun

1. (historical) A rich satin fabric.