Particle: meaning, definitions and examples
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particle
[ ˈpɑːrtɪkl ]
physics
A particle is a tiny piece of matter, such as an atom or a molecule.
Synonyms
atom, molecule, subatomic particle
Examples of usage
- Scientists are studying the behavior of particles at the subatomic level.
- The collision of particles in the accelerator created new elements.
- Particles interact with each other through fundamental forces.
- The concept of wave-particle duality is central to quantum mechanics.
- Particle physics explores the smallest building blocks of the universe.
grammar
A particle is a small word that does not change its form and has a grammatical function.
Synonyms
function word, grammatical particle
Examples of usage
- In English, particles like 'up' and 'down' can change the meaning of a verb.
- Japanese uses particles like 'は' and 'が' to indicate the subject and object of a sentence.
- Particles in German can help show the relationship between words in a sentence.
meteorology
A particle can refer to a small piece of matter or substance suspended in the air.
Synonyms
aerosol, dust, particulate matter
Examples of usage
- Cloud seeding involves releasing particles into the atmosphere to induce precipitation.
- Air pollution can be caused by particles from vehicle emissions and industrial processes.
- The air quality index measures the concentration of particles in the air.
Translations
Translations of the word "particle" in other languages:
🇵🇹 partícula
🇮🇳 कण
🇩🇪 Teilchen
🇮🇩 partikel
🇺🇦 частинка
🇵🇱 cząstka
🇯🇵 粒子 (りゅうし)
🇫🇷 particule
🇪🇸 partícula
🇹🇷 parçacık
🇰🇷 입자
🇸🇦 جُسَيْم
🇨🇿 částice
🇸🇰 častica
🇨🇳 粒子 (lìzǐ)
🇸🇮 delček
🇮🇸 agn
🇰🇿 бөлшек
🇬🇪 ნაწილაკი
🇦🇿 hissəcik
🇲🇽 partícula
Word origin
The word 'particle' has roots in Latin, where 'particula' meant 'small part'. The concept of particles in physics dates back to ancient Greek philosophers who proposed that matter is composed of indivisible particles. Over time, the understanding of particles evolved through scientific discoveries in the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology. In grammar, the term 'particle' has been used to describe small words with specific functions in sentence structure. The study of particles in meteorology also plays a role in understanding atmospheric phenomena and environmental impacts. The multifaceted use of the word 'particle' reflects its importance across various disciplines.
See also: apart, counterpart, impart, multipart, part, partable, partial, partially, participate, particular, parting, partisan, partition, partitive, partly, partner, partook, parts, partway, party.