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

• ace
• bit
• crumb
• dab
• dram
• driblet
• glimmer
• hint
• lick
• little
• mite
• nip
• ounce
• peanuts
• ray
• scintilla
• scruple
• shade
• shadow
• shred
• skosh
• smack
• smell
• smidgen
• smidgeon
• smidgin
• smidge
• snap
• soupçon
• spark
• spatter
• speck
• splash
• spot
• sprinkling
• strain
• streak
• suspicion
• tad
• touch
• trace

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

There are many forms of solar radiation modification, including a concept known as marine cloud brightening, which uses sea salt particles to increase the reflectivity of clouds in order to reflect more sunlight away from Earth. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

According to the Desert Research Institute, those particles allow more snowflakes to quickly form inside storm clouds, increasing snowpack and streamflow. —The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024

One of the big issues that scientists have only recently discovered is that tire particles are a huge problem. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024

Quantum physics explains how extremely small objects simultaneously have characteristics of both particles (tiny pieces of matter) and waves (a disturbance or variation that transfers energy). —San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024

The issue is with cement, which can be broken down into small particles that cause damage to people’s health. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024

Near this horizon, the only particles that can escape are the ones that are moving radially outward in almost the exact radial direction. —Quanta Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

Other birds can become infected through direct contact with the virus particles, or through contact with surfaces contaminated with viruses from infected birds. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

With a 360-degree air intake that covers 215 square feet (the perfect size for a bedroom or office), the air purifier can capture up to 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.01 microns, like dust, pet dander, and other allergens, from the air using the H13 true HEPA filter. —Leonora Epstein, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

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

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