noun
droplet
DROP-lət
Droplet (noun) means a very small drop of liquid. Example: “A droplet of rain slid down the window pane.”
noun
1
A very small drop of liquid.
"A droplet of rain slid down the window pane."
"Tiny droplets of oil floated on the surface of the water."
"She wiped a droplet of paint from her sleeve."
How to use droplet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA droplet is just a tiny drop, smaller than an ordinary drop of liquid.
When to use it
Droplet is a plain, everyday word suitable in both casual and technical writing.
Memory tip
Use droplet rather than drop when you want to stress how small the amount of liquid is.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a droplet of water
tiny droplets
droplets of rain
respiratory droplets
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of rain slid down the window pane.
Etymology
Droplet is formed from drop with the diminutive suffix -let added, giving the sense of a small drop.
Frequently asked questions
What does droplet mean?
It means a very small drop, typically of a liquid such as water or oil.
How is droplet different from drop?
Droplet specifically emphasises smallness, thanks to the diminutive suffix -let, whereas drop can refer to any size.
Where does the word droplet come from?
It is built from drop plus the suffix -let, which is used in English to form words meaning a small version of something.
What is the meaning of droplet?
"droplet" (noun) means a very small drop of liquid.
