particle
/ˈpɑː.tɪ.kəl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A very small piece of something. It can be a tiny bit of dust, soil, or matter.
- Dust particles floated in the sunlight.
- The machine removes tiny particles from water.
- 2.
In grammar, a particle is a small word that adds meaning but does not change form, such as "up" in "give up."
- "Up" is a particle in that sentence.
- She asked about English particles in class.
Adinary Nuance
Use particle when you mean a very small bit, especially in science or writing about air, dust, or matter. It is smaller and more exact than piece or bit. In grammar, it is more specific than word, because it names a small function word with a special role.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạt nhỏ
- Spanish
- partícula
- Chinese
- 微粒
- Japanese
- 粒子
- Korean
- 입자
Etymology
Particle comes from Latin particula, meaning "a small part." It entered English in the late Middle English period, and later became important in science and grammar.
Common phrases
subatomic particlefine particlesdust particlesparticle size
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is particle used more in science or everyday English?
- It is common in science, but people also use it for dust and very small bits.
- What is the difference between particle and piece?
- A particle is much smaller and more precise than a piece.
- What does particle mean in grammar?
- It is a small word like "up" in "give up" that changes the meaning.