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particle definition

par·ti·cle (pärt′i kəl)

noun

    1. an extremely small piece; tiny fragment a dust particle
    2. the slightest trace; speck not a particle of truth
  2. Archaic a clause or article in a document
  3. Gram.
    1. 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
    2. a prefix or derivational suffix
  4. Physics elementary particle
  5. 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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