2K

Particle

UK //ˈpɑː.tɪ.kəl// US //ˈpɑrtɪkəl// Pronunciation

Definition

A very small piece or amount of something.

Listen to definition

In simple words: A small piece of something.

Examples

• A particle of dust floated in the sunlight.
• Scientists study the behavior of subatomic particles.
• He felt a particle of fear as he walked alone at night.
• In chemistry, a particle can refer to atoms or ions.
• The artist added a particle of color to the canvas.

Usage notes

Used in scientific contexts to describe tiny units of matter. Avoid in casual conversations unless speaking about science.

Grammar pattern

particle + of + noun

Memory hint

Remember 'particle' because it's part of a whole, like tiny dots in a painting.

Collocations

• subatomic particle
• dust particle
• tiny particle
• charged particle
• a particle of light

Synonyms

• fragment
• particle
• speck
• bit
• crumb

Common mistakes

• Confusing with 'part' - a particle is much smaller.
• Using particle in non-scientific contexts incorrectly.
• Mispronouncing the word with extra syllables.