granule

noun

gran·​ule ˈgran-(ˌ)yül 

1

: a small particle

especially : one of numerous particles forming a larger unit

2

: any of the small short-lived brilliant spots on the sun's photosphere

Synonyms

• atom
• bit
• crumb
• dribble
• fleck
• flyspeck
• grain
• molecule
• morsel
• mote
• nubbin
• nugget
• particle
• patch
• scrap
• scruple
• snip
• snippet
• speck
• tittle

Examples of granule in a Sentence

is there one granule of truth in that statement?

Recent Examples on the Web

In physical exfoliants, sugar granules, coffee, jojoba beads, or ground seeds are often used to create the scrubby texture. —Claire Sullivan, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

Everything reacts to touch: trees sway and lose their brush, snow and sand displace to leave only granules behind. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2024

With a 12-inch pillow made from lycra fabric filled with foam granules as its base, the Gaming Pillow looks like a miniature bean bag chair and should be malleable enough to stay upright even when plopped down on uneven surfaces. —Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 16 Aug. 2024

The granules, which seem to sort mRNAs so they can later be translated into proteins or degraded, were the main focus of Kedersha’s research career. —Byjohn Travis, science.org, 6 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin granulum, diminutive of Latin granum grain

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

granule

noun

gran·​ule ˈgran-yü(ə)l 

1

: a small grain or particle

granules of sugar

2

: a small short-lived bright spot on the sun

Medical Definition

granule

noun

gran·​ule ˈgran-(ˌ)yü(ə)l 

1

a

: a little grain or small particle

especially : one of a number of particles forming a larger unit

b

: a small sugar-coated pill

2

: a clump of actinomycetes in a lesion