particle
gb/pˈɑɹtɪkəl/ us/pˈɑɹtɪkəl/
B2
English
~ 7100
részecske, darabka, szemcse, szubatomi részecske, partikula, nyelvtani partikula, nyomnyi mennyiség, csipetnyi, fikarcnyi, szemernyi, szikrányi
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a particle of [substance]
Sunlight streamed through the window, catching the dust particles in the air.
A napfény besütött az ablakon, és láthatóvá tette a levegőben szálló porszemcséket.
Rinse the dishes well to remove any food particles.
Alaposan öblítsd le az edényeket, hogy eltávolítsd az apró ételdarabkákat.
The filter is designed to trap tiny particles in the water supply.
Scientists measured the concentration of fine particles in the city’s air.
Learner examples
I could see small dust particles in the light.
Láttam az apró porszemcséket a fényben.
Brush your teeth to clean food particles from your mouth.
Moss fogat, hogy eltávolítsd az ételmaradékokat a szádból.
The mask stops tiny particles from entering your nose.
The water looked dirty because of many small particles.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "particle" is only a physics word. In everyday English, it is also common for very small bits of dust, dirt, or food. Also, learners may confuse "particle" with the similar-sounding word "article," which has a completely different meaning.
Meaning
very small piece of material
Collocations
dust particles
|food particles
|airborne particles
|fine particles
|tiny particles
|smoke particles
Synonyms
speck (Often suggests something extremely small and usually seen as a tiny mark.)
|
grain (Suggests a small, hard piece, especially of sand, salt, or cereal.)
|
bit (A very general word for a small piece; less precise and less scientific than "particle.")
Antonyms
mass (Refers to a large, continuous body of matter rather than many tiny separate pieces.)
Themes
science
|nature
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very small piece of a substance, like dust or dirt.
A very small, separate piece of a substance such as dust, dirt, food, or other material.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
részecske
B2
Usage pattern:
a subatomic particle called [name]
Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Az elektronok negatív töltésű részecskék, amelyek az atommag körül keringenek.
The experiment detected a new subatomic particle that had never been observed before.
A kísérlet egy új szubatomi részecskét mutatott ki, amelyet korábban még soha nem figyeltek meg.
Particle physics seeks to understand the fundamental particles and forces that make up the universe.
A particle accelerator speeds up charged particles and smashes them together for study.
Learner examples
An atom is made of very small particles.
Az atom nagyon apró részecskékből áll.
Electrons are tiny particles with a negative charge.
Az elektronok apró, negatív töltésű részecskék.
Scientists study particles to learn how the universe works.
A particle accelerator makes particles move very, very fast.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix this meaning with the everyday sense of a small piece of dust or dirt. In physics, "particle" usually means a subatomic or fundamental unit like an electron, not just any small bit of material.
Meaning
extremely small unit of matter
Collocations
subatomic particle
|elementary particle
|fundamental particles
|particle physics
|particle accelerator
|high-energy particles
Synonyms
subatomic unit (A descriptive technical phrase that highlights the scale, often used in explanations rather than in strict scientific naming.)
|
quantum (In physics, can refer to a discrete quantity or unit, but is more specialized and does not cover all types of particles.)
Antonyms
macroscopic object (Refers to an object large enough to be seen directly, in contrast to tiny particles that usually require instruments to detect.)
Themes
physics
|science
|technology
Definition
In physics, a very, very small piece of matter or energy, like an electron or proton.
In physics, an extremely small unit of matter or energy, such as an electron, proton, neutron, or photon.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
partikula
C1
Usage pattern:
the particle [word]
In the phrasal verb "turn off," the word "off" is a particle.
A „turn off” frazális igében az „off” szó partikula.
Some languages use a question particle at the end of a sentence.
Egyes nyelvek kérdő partikulát használnak a mondat végén.
The word "to" in "to go" is often described as the infinitive particle.
In this construction, the negative particle comes before the verb.
Learner examples
In English, "up" in "pick up" is a particle.
Az angolban a „pick up” kifejezésben az „up” partikula.
The word "not" is a common negative particle.
A „not” szó gyakori tagadó partikula.
"To" in "to read" is called the infinitive particle.
Some languages have a special particle to show a question.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse particles with prepositions because some words, like "up" or "off," can be both. In phrasal verbs, these words are usually called particles, not prepositions, because they form a single unit of meaning with the verb.
Meaning
small grammatical function word
Collocations
grammatical particle
|phrasal verb particle
|negative particle
|aspect particle
|the particle "to"
Synonyms
function word (A broader linguistic term that includes particles but also other items such as prepositions and conjunctions.)
|
marker (Often used in linguistics for a word or morpheme that indicates a grammatical category, similar to many particles.)
Antonyms
content word (Refers to words like nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that carry clear lexical meaning, not just grammatical function.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
|communication
Definition
In grammar, a small word like "not" or "up" that helps show grammar or meaning in a phrase, but does not have a clear meaning by itself.
A short, usually unstressed word that shows a grammatical function rather than carrying full lexical meaning, such as "not" or the "up" in the phrasal verb "pick up."
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
a particle of [abstract noun]
There was not a particle of evidence to support the claim.
Egy szemernyi bizonyíték sem volt az állítás alátámasztására.
She listened without a particle of interest.
Szemernyi érdeklődés nélkül hallgatta végig.
His story may contain a particle of truth, but most of it is clearly exaggerated.
They acted without a particle of fear, even in such danger.
Learner examples
The police found not a particle of proof.
A rendőrség egy szemernyi bizonyítékot sem talált.
I do not feel a particle of doubt about my choice.
Egy szemernyi kétséget sem érzek a döntésemmel kapcsolatban.
There is a particle of truth in what he says.
She spoke without a particle of anger in her voice.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always refers to physical bits, but in this sense it describes an amount of something abstract, like evidence, truth, or doubt. It is especially common in negative phrases like "not a particle of."
Meaning
very small, almost zero amount
Collocations
not a particle of
|a particle of truth
|without a particle of
|the least particle of
Synonyms
trace (A very small sign or amount of something, often used in similar negative or careful statements.)
|
shred (Often used with abstract nouns like "evidence" or "doubt" to mean a very small amount.)
|
hint (A small amount or sign, especially of a feeling or quality, but less emphatic than "particle.")
Antonyms
abundance (Means a very large amount of something, the opposite of a tiny or almost zero amount.)
Themes
evaluation
|emotion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very, very small amount of something, often used to say there is almost none.
A very small amount of something, often used to emphasize that there is almost none, especially in negative statements.
Grammar
Dictionary form
particle
IPA
GB/pˈɑɹtɪkəl/
US/pˈɑɹtɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
particle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (particle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: particle
- Plural: particles
Word family
Forms
particles
noun
Core family
particulate
adjective
Related words
Advanced or less common
antiparticle
noun
Expressions
a particle of truth
1/ə pˈɑɹtɪkəl əv tɹˈuθ/
fixed phrase
a small part that is true
Used to say that a statement or story is mostly wrong, but has a very small part that is true.
Examples
- Her story may have a particle of truth, but it is largely invented.
- There is a particle of truth in the criticism, even if it is unfair overall.
- The film is fiction, though it contains a particle of truth about life in that period.
not a particle of
1/nˈɑt ə pˈɑɹtɪkəl əv/
fixed phrase
not even a tiny bit
Used to say there is no amount of something at all, not even a very small amount.
Examples
- There is not a particle of truth in that rumor.
- He showed not a particle of interest in the proposal.
- They acted without a particle of hesitation.