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particle

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

A particle is a very small piece of matter. It can be made up of atoms or molecules. Particles can be solid, liquid, or gas.

Some examples of particles include sand, water, and air. Sand is made up of small particles of rocks. Water is made up of small particles of hydrogen and oxygen. Air is made up of small particles of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases.

Particles can move around. They can bump into each other and bounce off each other. They can also stick together to form larger particles.

How can the word be used?

The smoke from the fire was made up of tiny particles of ash and soot.

particle

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • particle (a very small piece of matter).
  • particulate (of or relating to particles).
  • particle physics (the branch of physics that studies the behaviour of particles).

Adjective:

  • particulate (of or relating to particles).

Etymology

The word "particle" is derived from the Latin word "particula", which means "small part". The first recorded use of the word "particle" in English was in the 14th century.

Question

Where might you find a particle?