particle

noun

par·​ti·​cle ˈpär-ti-kəl How to pronounce particle (audio)
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

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 Both are in interstellar space and are the only spacecraft ever to operate beyond the heliosphere, the sun’s bubble of magnetic fields and particles that extends well beyond the orbit of Pluto. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 And at Forti's murder trial in 2000, prosecutors pored over blowups of microscopic images of sand particles with their expert saying the grains definitely came from Virginia Key. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 The awe-inspiring sight—which occurs when electrically charged solar particles interact with gasses in the earth’s atmosphere—is best enjoyed in rural areas where little light pollution allows aurora to shine its brightest. Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 Scientists found no evidence the salmon died because of oxygen levels or higher levels of particles in the river, and the dead fish showed signs of gas bubble disease, officials said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 The high toll of asthma in the South Bronx is linked to air pollution, diesel exhaust from truck traffic, cockroach particles, mold and other factors related to environmental and housing conditions. Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 X-Raying the Cosmos After the Big Bang, subtle density variations in the newborn universe gradually became more pronounced as matter particles glommed onto each other. Liz Kruesi, Quanta Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 The team suggest the technique may be able to detect more unusual particles emitted in nuclear decays, including sterile neutrinos or even particles that may be related to dark matter. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024 There’s also a HEPA filtration system for capturing particles as small as 0.1 microns. Paul Lamkin, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'particle.' 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

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of particle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near particle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

particle

noun
par·​ti·​cle ˈpärt-i-kəl How to pronounce particle (audio)
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 How to pronounce particle (audio)
1
: one of the minute subdivisions of matter (as an atom or molecule)
2
: a minute quantity or fragment

More from Merriam-Webster on particle

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