particle Definition
par·ti·cle (pärt′i kəl)
noun
- an extremely small piece; tiny fragment a dust particle
- the slightest trace; speck not a particle of truth
- Archaic a clause or article in a document
- Gram.
- a short, usually uninflected and invariable part of speech used to express a syntactic or semantic relationship, as an article or any of certain prepositions, conjunctions, or interjections
- a prefix or derivational suffix
- Physics elementary particle
- R.C.Ch. a small piece of the consecrated Host or any of the small Hosts given to lay communicants
Etymology: ME partycle < MFr particule < L particula, dim. of pars, part
particle Synonyms
particle Usage Examples
Converse of object
- emit: This research establishes for the first time a direct link between global warming and the soot particles emitted by motor vehicles.
- suspend: I have recently branched out into studying phase transitions in colloids, which are particles suspended in a liquid phase host.
- inhale: In some cases only 30 % of inhaled particles are trapped, the remainder are exhaled.
Adjective modifier
- sub-atomic: There is apparently no end to the proliferation of yet smaller sub-atomic particles.
- elementary: Particle Accelerators are devices used to accelerate charged elementary particles or ions to high energies.
- subatomic: In addition, new concepts are introduced ranging from the scale of subatomic particles, up to the size of galaxies and beyond.
- airborne: The unique design features multiple layers of oiled cotton fabric which captures the airborne dirt particles.
- radioactive: Sand and seawater has penetrated the tunnel, trapping radioactive particles within the tunnel.
- microscopic: These microscopic particles now have an electric charge which enables them to stick to surfaces more easily.
Modifies a noun
- physics: They are all part of the GridPP project, which runs the UK particle physics Grid.
- physic: Anyone interested in the world of elementary particle physics must get a copy.
- accelerator: The LHC will be the world's most powerful particle accelerator.
- physicist: They are building a distributed computing Grid across the UK for particle physicists.
- size: How do Concept produce such a small particle size?
Noun used with modifier
- alpha: The alpha particles will quickly be absorbed by clothing.
- dust: Clouds of dust particles brought about vivid sunsets all over the world for the next three years.
- aerosol: He will be investigating the optical properties of aerosol particles by cavity ringdown spectroscopy.
- soot: This research establishes for the first time a direct link between global warming and the soot particles emitted by motor vehicles.
- ultrafine: A major concern is the lack of knowledge regarding the ecotoxicity and the environmental impact of these ultrafine particles.
- high-energy: Some speculate that the high-energy particles are not protons at all but some exotic new particle.
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