Meaning & use
particles
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“particles” is a form of “particle”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluraltechnicalphysics
very small pieces of matter, especially in physics and chemistry.
Grammar: The singular is 'particle': one particle, many particles. Use plural verbs with 'particles': Particles move quickly.
Patterns
- small particles
- particles of dust
- particles move
The air was full of tiny dust particles.
Scientists study how particles behave at very low temperatures.
These particles are too small to see with a normal microscope.
nounpluraltechnical
short words in grammar, such as 'up' in 'get up' or 'to' in 'to go'.
Grammar: In grammar, 'particles' often means a class of small words. The singular 'particle' means one such word.
Patterns
- verb particles
- adverbial particles
English phrasal verbs are made of a verb plus one or more particles.
The teacher explained how particles like 'up' and 'out' change the meaning of a verb.
In 'look after', 'after' works as a particle.
nounpluralliterary
very small amounts of something, often a quality or feeling.
Grammar: Usually used in the phrase 'particles of' with an uncountable noun.
Patterns
- particles of dust
- particles of light
Particles of light danced on the water.
A few particles of truth remained in his story.
Word forms
| singular | particle |
|---|
Common combinations
- dust particles
- Dust particles floated in the sunlight.
- small particles
- The filter catches small particles.
- particles of matter
- All particles of matter have mass.
- subatomic particles
- Subatomic particles are studied in physics.
- verb particles
- Some verb particles are hard to translate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bits
- A general everyday word for small pieces; 'particles' is more technical and usually smaller.
- specks
- Used for tiny visible marks or pieces, often of dust or dirt; 'particles' can be invisible.
- fragments
- Suggests pieces broken off something larger; particles need not come from something broken.
Word family
- particle noun
- One very small piece or a small grammatical word.
- particular adjective
- Relating to one specific thing, not all things.
Commonly confused: particles or participles? particles or articles?
particles vs participles
Participles are verb forms like 'running' or 'broken'; particles are small words like 'up' or 'to'.
particles vs articles
Articles are the words 'a', 'an', and 'the'; particles are a different class of small words.
Practice
In the sentence 'She looked up the word', what is 'up'?
Choose one answer.
'Up' combines with the verb 'look' to make a phrasal verb, so it is a particle. It is not an article; it can look like a preposition, but here it does not introduce a noun phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “particles”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.