particle
PAH-tihkl
Particle (noun) means a very small piece or amount of matter. Example: “A tiny particle of grit got stuck in my eye.”
noun
1
A very small piece or amount of matter.
"A tiny particle of grit got stuck in my eye."
"The factory filters out every particle of smoke before the air leaves the chimney."
"Dust particles floated in the beam of sunlight."
2
In physics, a tiny piece of matter smaller than an atom, such as an electron or proton.
"The teacher explained that an electron is a particle much smaller than an atom."
"Scientists study how each particle behaves when it moves through the detector."
"The collider smashes particles together at nearly the speed of light."
3
In grammar, a small word, like "to" or "up," that helps form a phrase but has little meaning on its own.
"In the phrase "to go", the word "to" is an infinitive particle."
"Many phrasal verbs, like "turn off", are built with a particle such as "off"."
""Up" in "give up" functions as a particle rather than a preposition."
How to use particle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tiny piece of something — of matter, or (in grammar) a small connecting word.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
subatomic particle
dust particle
grammatical particle
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Word forms
- Plural
- particles
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A tiny _____ of grit got stuck in my eye.
Etymology
From Latin particula, "small part," a diminutive of pars, "part."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for particle
See all rhymes for particle →Frequently asked questions
What does “particle” mean?
The word “particle” means a very small piece or amount of matter. In plain terms, a tiny piece of something — of matter, or (in grammar) a small connecting word.
How do you pronounce “particle”?
“Particle” is pronounced PAH-tihkl (/ˈpɑɹtək(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “particle” in a sentence?
Here is “particle” used in a sentence: “Dust particles floated in the beam of sunlight.”
What part of speech is “particle”?
“Particle” is a noun.
Where does the word “particle” come from?
The word “particle” comes from Latin. From Latin particula, "small part," a diminutive of pars, "part.".
Is “particle” a common word?
“Particle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “particle” have?
“Particle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very small piece or amount of matter.
What is the difference between a particle and a molecule?
A particle is any very small piece or amount of matter, and the word is quite general. A molecule is a specific structure of two or more atoms bonded together, so a molecule can be one kind of particle, but not all particles are molecules.
What is the difference between a particle and an atom in physics?
In physics an atom is a unit of matter made of protons, neutrons, and electrons, while a subatomic particle is a piece of matter smaller than an atom, such as an electron or proton. So particles are among the components that make up atoms.
In grammar, what is the difference between a particle and a preposition?
A grammatical particle is a small word such as 'to' or 'up' that helps form a phrase but carries little meaning on its own. A preposition shows a relationship of place or time and takes an object ('in the box'), whereas a particle in a phrasal verb such as 'give up' is tied to the verb rather than to a following noun.
What words commonly go with 'particle'?
Frequent collocations include 'dust particle,' 'food particle,' 'charged particle,' and 'subatomic particle.' In science writing you also often see 'particles of' something, as in 'particles of dust' or 'particles of sand.'
