monad

views updated

mon·ad / ˈmōˌnad/ • n. technical a single unit; the number one. ∎  Philos. (in the philosophy of Leibniz) an indivisible and hence ultimately simple entity, such as an atom or a person. ∎  dated Biol. a single-celled organism, esp. a flagellate protozoan, or a single cell.DERIVATIVES: mo·nad·ic / mōˈnadik; mə-/ adj.mon·ad·ism / -ˌizəm/ n. ( Philos. ).

More From encyclopedia.com