Definition & Meaning of "particle"

Particle

NOUN

(physics) any of the smallest units that energy or matter consists of, such as electrons, atoms, molecules, etc.

Example

Electrons are fundamental particles with a negative electric charge.

In chemistry, atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, which are subatomic particles.

(grammar) an adverb or preposition that is used with a verb to form a phrasal verb

What is a "particle"?

In linguistics, a particle is a small word that does not change form and is used to express a grammatical function rather than a specific meaning. Particles can help modify or clarify the role of other words in a sentence. In English, examples of particles include words like "to" in "to go" or "not" in "do not." Particles do not fit easily into other word categories like nouns, verbs, or adjectives, and they usually provide grammatical context, helping to form phrases, indicate negation, or show relationships between words.

Example

In the phrasal verb ' look up, ' ' up ' is a particle that changes the meaning of the verb ' look.'

She carefully explained the function of each particle in the phrasal verb ' break down.

a tiny, discrete unit of matter or substance that can range from subatomic particles like electrons and protons to larger particles like dust or sand grains

Example

Scientists study the behavior of particles in particle physics to understand the fundamental forces of nature.

Pollen particles can trigger allergies in susceptible individuals during the spring season.