particle
Quick Summary
In grammar, a particle is a word that expresses a general aspect of meaning or a connective or limiting relation. Examples include articles, most prepositions and conjunctions, and some interjections and adverbs. For instance, the particle "up" can convey a perfective meaning in phrases like "beat up" or "cut up".1
Beyond grammar, "particle" can also refer to a very small amount or fragment of something, such as "not a particle of truth". In physics, it denotes basic units of matter and energy, like atoms, electrons, or photons.21
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