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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Just as physicists deduced the existence of subatomic particles from the movements of visible matter, San hunters reconstructed the behaviors of invisible animals from tracks. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 Our planet’s magnetic field shields Earth’s biosphere and atmosphere from barrages of high-energy cosmic rays and dangerous outbursts of solar particles and radiation. Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2024 By harnessing the complex nature of quantum particles, the hope is to exponentially increase computing power far beyond conventional means. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024 That's because the curvature of the Earth causes the particles to interact higher in the atmosphere, where oxygen is less plentiful, resulting in a more reddish hue. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for particle 

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 5 Nov. 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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