particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpär-ti-kəl 

1

a

: a minute quantity or fragment

b

: a relatively small or the smallest discrete portion or amount of something

2

archaic : a clause or article of a composition or document

3

: any of the basic units of matter and energy (such as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)

4

: a unit of speech expressing some general aspect of meaning or some connective or limiting relation and including the articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs

the particle up has a perfective meaning in phrases such as beat up and cut up

5

: a small eucharistic wafer distributed to a Roman Catholic layman at Communion

Synonyms

• sprinkling
• speck
• hint
• splash
• glimmer
• shred
• bit
• touch
• little
• trace
• lick
• ray
• spark
• tad

Examples of particle in a Sentence

There is not a particle of evidence to support their claim.

There is not a particle of truth in what he said.

The phrasal verb “look up” consists of the verb “look” and the adverbial particle “up.”

Recent Examples on the Web

When the particle deposits here, protective alveolar macrophages rush to engulf it. —Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

The second, Steel Nomad's regular (4K) and Light (1440p), focuses on APIs more commonly used for game development to assess gaming geometry and particle effects. —Charles Jefferies, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025

Planetary formation is believed to occur through a process called accretion — which involves small particles in dusty, gas-rich disks around young stars colliding and sticking together, gradually growing to the size of planets. —Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin particula, from diminutive of part-, pars

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing particle

• alpha particle
• beta particle
• elementary particle
• fundamental particle
• J/psi particle
• particle accelerator
• particle physics
• psi particle
• W particle
• Z particle

Rhymes for particle

• article
• interparticle
• nanoparticle
• quasiparticle

Kids Definition

particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpärt-i-kəl 

1

: one of the very small parts of matter (as a molecule, atom, or electron)

2

: a very small quantity or piece

3

: the smallest possible portion

Medical Definition

particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpärt-i-kəl 

1

: one of the minute subdivisions of matter (as an atom or molecule)

also : elementary particle

2

: a minute quantity or fragment