In French, the word atlas has essentially the same meaning as in English, as it comes from the same mythological root, and is pronounced at-lass with French accent. In French, un atlas means a collection of maps, charts, and geographical information in book form, for example atlas geographique meaning geographical atlas, atlas mondial meaning world atlas, or atlas routier meaning road atlas, used in schools and homes for reference and education. The word retains the same anatomical meaning as in English, where atlas refers to the first cervical vertebra C1 that supports the skull, called l'atlas in French medical terminology. In architecture, un atlante or atlas refers to a sculpted male figure supporting an entablature, similar to English usage. The French language also uses Atlas for the mythological Titan Atlas who holds up the sky, le Titan Atlas. Additionally, Atlas is used as a proper name for mountains, such as l'Atlas meaning the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and as a brand name. French dictionaries define atlas as recueil de cartes geographiques, meaning collection of geographic maps. So atlas in French means the same as in English, a map book, first vertebra, or supporting figure, derived from Greek mythology, with no major difference in meaning, though pronunciation and articles differ. French also uses atlas in phrases like atlas historique for historical atlas or atlas anatomique for anatomy atlas, identical to English usage.
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