Get the FREE one-click dictionary software for Windows
or the iPhone/iPad and Android apps
Noun: particle  paa(r)-ti-kul
  1. (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
    "A particle of dust floated in the sunbeam";
    - atom, molecule, corpuscle, mote, speck
     
  2. A body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions
    "Electrons and protons are examples of subatomic particles";
    - subatomic particle
     
  3. A function word that can be used in English to form phrasal verbs
    "'Off' is a particle in 'turn off the lights'"

Derived forms: particles

Type of: body, closed-class word, function word, functor, material, stuff

Encyclopedia: Particle