nanoparticle

noun nano·par·ti·cle \ ˈna-nə-ˌpär-ti-kəl , ˈna-nō- \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Definition of nanoparticle

: a microscopic particle whose size is measured in nanometers

Recent Examples of nanoparticle from the Web

The geometry for this form of microscopy was originally developed at the start of the 20th century to aid the study of nanoparticles.

— jonathan nylk, Scientific American, "Bendy Laser Beams Can Examine Human Tissue Like Never Before," 23 May 2018
So Ferrari developed a new way of making nanoparticles and his results were recently published in Nature Communications.

— angela chen, The Verge, "How graphene and gold could help us test drugs and monitor cancer," 18 May 2018
The glow emanating from the leaves of this watercress is the result of plant nanobionics, in which live plants are given unusual characteristics through the introduction of microscopic nanoparticles.

— mark ellwood, WSJ, "Your Next Desk Lamp: A Plant That Glows?," 15 May 2018
Gold nanoparticles are safe for the body and chemically stable.

— angela chen, The Verge, "How graphene and gold could help us test drugs and monitor cancer," 18 May 2018
Scientists have previously used nanoparticles to deliver drugs in the body.

— matthew tontonoz, Scientific American, "Up Close and Personal," 15 May 2018
In 1996, Mirkin and three colleagues published a paper announcing their invention of a method for programming DNA to build nanoparticles up into macroscopic materials.

— kastalia medrano, Newsweek, "New Class of Light-Bending Material Spun With DNA and Gold Nanoparticles Can Achieve First Real-Life Invisibility Cloak," 19 Jan. 2018
While smoking cannabis is the most obvious way to consume it, entrepreneurs unfettered by government regulation have figured out how to infuse it into foods and drinks, turn it into nanoparticles, or extract it into oils and tinctures.

— trevor hughes, USA TODAY, "Medical marijuana used pot's emotional connection to spread nationally," 27 Apr. 2018
Research shows that its incredible properties are due to the presence of silver and gold nanoparticles, which change color depending on the observer’s location.

— doug main, The Atlantic, "Humankind’s Most Important Material," 7 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nanoparticle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Nanoparticles of a material usually have very different qualities from those that the material has at its ordinary scale, which is one reason why there's such excitement about the possibilities for how they might be used in future technologies. Many uses have already been developed. Aluminum nanoparticles added to rocket fuel can make the fuel burn twice as fast and release much more energy. Silicon nanoparticles are increasing the energy efficiency of solar cells by allowing the energy from ultraviolet light to be captured for the first time. Other nanoparticles are now helping prevent rust in metals, produce stronger batteries, enhance the diagnosis of cancer, and improve the filtering of water, and the number of other applications is growing fast.