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

Its thorough filtration process captures pollen, dust, and other small particles, while also absorbing odors and fumes. —Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

Each comet's heart is a clump of ancient solar system debris — a mix of dust, rock, and frozen gases, much like the particles that make up Saturn's rings. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025

However, the ability to quantum tunnel was typically restricted to particles that didn’t interact with other particles or their environments. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025

Led by Jouni Ruotsalainen, a doctoral researcher from the University of Jyväskylä, the team marked a major advance in the study of neutrinos which are tiny, ghost-like particles that are incredibly difficult to detect. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 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