quantum: Meaning and Definition of

quan•tum

Pronunciation: (kwon'tum), [key]
— n., pl. adj. -ta
—n.
  1. quantity or amount: the least quantum of evidence.
  2. a particular amount.
  3. a share or portion.
  4. a large quantity; bulk.
    1. the smallest quantity of radiant energy, equal to Planck's constant times the frequency of the associated radiation.
    2. the fundamental unit of a quantized physical magnitude, as angular momentum.
—adj.
  1. sudden and significant: a quantum increase in productivity.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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