What does "particle" mean?
A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.
Particle
/ˈpɑːtɪk(ə)l/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.
- Grammar: particle is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: speck, ace, adjectival, adjective.
- Useful contrasts: antiparticle, antiparticles, bulk.
- Usage evidence: It is of great significance in this experiment to accelerate the particle M in the horizontal direction.
How to use "particle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "particle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "particle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "particle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "particle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "particle" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "speck" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "particle", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.
"Be content with the knowledge that, ere the voyage had ended, both she and I were desperately and unreasoningly in love with one another. Heaven knows that I can make the admission now without one particle of vanity."
- 2 a function word that can be used in English to form phrasal verbs wordnet
- 3 Any of various physical objects making up the constituent parts of an atom; an elementary particle or subatomic particle.
"What, he asked himself, does quantum theory have to say about the familiar properties of particles such as position?"
- 4 a body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions wordnet
- 5 A part of speech that has no inherent lexical definition but must be associated with another word to impart meaning, often a grammatical category: for example, the English word to in a full infinitive phrase (to eat) or O in a vocative phrase (O Canada), or as a discourse marker (mmm).
"In English there is no grammatical device to differentiate predicational judgments from nonpredicational descriptions. This distinction does cast a shadow on the grammatical sphere to some extent, but recognition of it must generally be made in semantic terms. It is maintained here that in Japanese, on the other hand, the distinction is grammatically realized through the use of the two particles wa and ga."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything wordnet
- 7 A part of speech which cannot be inflected.
"322. The parts of speech which are neither declined nor conjugated, are called by the general name of particles. 323. They are adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections."
- 8 In the Roman Catholic church, a crumb of consecrated bread; also the smaller breads used in the communion of the laity.
- 9 A little bit.
""That doesn't make a particle of difference", replied Charlotte. "Not a particle.""
Antonyms
Example
"It is of great significance in this experiment to accelerate the particle M in the horizontal direction."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "particle"?
Common synonyms include: speck, ace, adjectival, adjective, adverb, adverbial.
How do you use "particle" in a sentence?
It is of great significance in this experiment to accelerate the particle M in the horizontal direction.
How do you pronounce "particle"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑːtɪk(ə)l/.
Etymology
From Middle French particule, and its source, Latin particula (“small part, particle”), diminutive of pars (“part, piece”).