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 of particle

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

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

Storms deposited 267 to 3,190 particles per square meter per day at the remote sites, and on average three times as much, 2,560 to 7,480, at the Mammoth site. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Such particles, rather than matting down, will permeate down into the soil, nourishing it with organic matter. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Nov. 2026

When electricity is needed, the hot particles transfer heat to a working gas that drives machinery connected to a generator. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026

This combination is designed to help the robot collect larger debris while also filtering smaller particles that can affect pool cleanliness. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

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