particulate

1 of 2

adjective

par·​tic·​u·​late pär-ˈti-kyə-lət How to pronounce particulate (audio)
 also  -ˌlāt
: of or relating to minute separate particles

particulate

2 of 2

noun

: a particulate substance

Examples of particulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
High temperatures can trigger heart attacks and strokes, while particulate matter in wildfire smoke is linked to cancer and lung disease. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024 Wearable air-quality monitors will alert us to the presence of particulate ash, carbon monoxide, mold spores, and pathogens like Covid-51. Gear Team, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2023 Delhi has already tried traffic restriction measures, multimillion-dollar air filtration towers, and the use of fleets of water-spraying trucks to dissolve the particulate matter in the air—but to no avail. WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023 Though vehicle exhaust was once the primary source of particulate pollution in the region, metal particles from brake and tire wear are now a significant and growing source of PM2.5, Paulson said. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023 In recent years, particulate emissions from brakes and tires are starting to grow as well, even outweighing those from tailpipes in some locations. Kasha Patel, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2023 Peatlands like the Okefenokee Swamp also tend to burn slowly, Mr. Wen said, releasing more particulate matter into the air. Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 28 June 2023 Chemicals officials are concerned about A primary health concern to residents is particulate matter, which could cause respiratory problems if inhaled, Christine Stinson, who heads the Wayne County Health Department, previously said. Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023 Living in a particulate haze could become a more common occurrence. Devika Rao, The Week, 9 June 2023
Noun
Eleven years later, researchers employed by the Forest Service published a paper that found that smoke from prescribed burns contained elevated levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter, including benzene and formaldehyde, both of which are carcinogenic. ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024 Candles may release a number of chemicals into your home, from solid and liquid particulate matter – about 25 times smaller than the width of a human hair – to gases like volatile organic compounds. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services alleged the plant’s particulate matter emissions exceeded national standards by more than 70%. Troy Aidan Sambajon, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 Diesel particulate filters therefore are installed in the exhaust system, generally at the exit of the catalytic converter. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2024 Tampering with or removing emissions controls can drastically increase the release of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and non-methane hydrocarbons found in vehicle exhaust, causing potentially serious health risks. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 26 Feb. 2024 Wildfire smoke is also a significant source of particulate matter pollution. Kelly Livingston, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2024 Because particulate matter poses such a health risk, the U.S. has for more than half a century enforced rules limiting how much of it can leave tailpipes and smokestacks. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 Both had sued the district in 2021 over Regulation 6-5, an emissions-reduction rule that requires the refineries to decrease their emissions of airborne particulate matter (PM) by 80% and 70%, respectively. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'particulate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin particula

First Known Use

Adjective

1870, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of particulate was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near particulate

Cite this Entry

“Particulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/particulate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

particulate

noun
par·​tic·​u·​late
pər-ˈtik-yə-lət,
pär-,
-ˌlāt
: a substance made up of very small separate particles

Medical Definition

particulate

1 of 2 adjective
par·​tic·​u·​late pär-ˈtik-yə-lət How to pronounce particulate (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or existing in the form of minute separate particles
dust, smoke, and other particulate matter
2
: of or relating to particulate inheritance
the particulate theory of heredityJulian Huxley

particulate

2 of 2 noun
: a particulate substance
emission of particulates by car engines
cytoplasmic particulates in the cell

More from Merriam-Webster on particulate

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