quantum /'kwän-tem noun
1 The smallest amount of a physical quantity that can exist independently, especially a discrete quantity of electromagnetic radiation. 2 The amount of energy regarded as a unit. 3 A quantity or amount.

adjective
1 large, significant. 2 of, relating to, or employing the principles of quantum mechanics

example sentence: The sum of human knowledge is now so immense that even a highly educated person can hope to absorb only a tiny quantum of it.

Quantum refers to the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that studies the behavior of matter and energy at the tiniest scales, such as atoms and subatomic particles.

Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of these tiny particles in terms of probabilities, rather than definite outcomes. This means that in the quantum world, particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously, and their behavior is subject to a degree of uncertainty.


The word "quantum" is derived from the Latin word "quantus", meaning "how much". In quantum mechanics, energy and matter are quantized, which means they exist in discrete, indivisible units called quanta. These quanta are the building blocks of the quantum world. They are the basis for many strange and counterintuitive phenomena observed in quantum mechanics, such as quantum entanglement and superposition.

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