I. ˈkwän-təm noun
( plural quan·ta ˈkwän-tə)
Etymology: Latin, neuter of quantus how much
Date: 1567
1.
a. : quantity , amount
b. : portion , part
c. : gross quantity : bulk
2.
a. : any of the very small increments or parcels into which many forms of energy are subdivided
b. : any of the small subdivisions of a quantized physical magnitude (as magnetic moment)
II. adjective
Date: 1942
1. : large , significant
a quantum improvement
2. : of, relating to, or employing the principles of quantum mechanics
quantum physics