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Definition of particle noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

particle

noun
 
/ˈpɑːtɪkl/
 
/ˈpɑːrtɪkl/
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  1. a very small piece of something
    • particles of dust/gold
    • dust/gold particles
    • There was not a particle of evidence (= no evidence at all) to support the case.
    see also alpha particle, beta particle, elementary particle, subatomic particleTopics Physics and chemistryc1
  2. (grammar) an adverb or a preposition that can combine with a verb to make a phrasal verb
    • In ‘She tore up the letter’, the word ‘up’ is a particle.
    see also adverbial particleTopics Languageb2
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin particula ‘little part’, diminutive of pars, part-.
See particle in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee particle in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: particle

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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