Added 10 October 2026
particulate
/pɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.lɪt/ adjective
Latin root: particulātus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about particulate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Composed of separate particles. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
particulate air pollution
- Pertaining to heritable characteristics which are attributable discretely to either one or another of an offspring's parents, rather than a blend of the two.
noun
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Any solid or liquid in a subdivided state, especially one that exhibits special characteristics which are negligible in the bulk material.
Particulates in engine oil can abrade moving parts.
verb
verb
- Synonym of particularize.
Origin
From New Latin particulātus (“divided into small parts”) (also particulāta (“small parts”), from its neuter plural), from Classical Latin particula (“particle”), from pars (“part, piece”) + -cula (diminutive suffix), + -ātus (-ate). The verb is probably independently from the adjective rather than from Etymology 2.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)