atlas

Everyday

1. An atlas is a book of maps. tree →
2. Atlas is a giant in Greek myths who held up the sky on his shoulders. tree →
3. (science) The atlas is the top bone of the spine, which holds up the head. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons pupils use an atlas to find countries, rivers, capital cities, and to read latitude and longitude. In maths, atlas maps use scales to work out real distances. In myths and art Atlas holds up the sky (often shown wrongly holding the globe).

Examples

• Find Canada in the atlas. tree →
• Our atlas has a map of every continent. tree →
• Use the index at the back of the atlas. tree →
• The atlas scale shows 1 centimetre equals 100 kilometres. tree →
• In the myth, Atlas holds up the sky. tree →
• A road atlas helps drivers find their way. tree →
• The atlas bone lets your head nod. tree →
• Atlas good-naturedly threw down the apples and once more resumed his load, upon which Heracles bade him adieu, and departed. tree →

Note

Plural: atlases. Named after the giant Atlas because old map books showed him on the cover. Myth trap: in the original story Atlas holds the sky, not the Earth.