A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.

plural of particle

A device that accelerates electrically charged particles to extremely high speeds, for the purpose of inducing high energy reactions or producing high energy radiation.

(physics) A positively charged nucleus of a helium-4 atom (consisting of two protons and two neutrons), emitted as a consequence of radioactivity; α-particle

(physics) An energetic electron or positron produced as the result of a nuclear reaction or nuclear decay.

(informal) The Higgs boson.

Any of many units of matter smaller than an atom.

(US, Canada) a structural material manufactured from wood particles (such as chips and shavings) by pressing, and binding through resin

(physics) Any of the subatomic particles that does not consist of other, smaller particles; the gauge bosons, leptons and quarks.

(physics) A fundamental particle; any of the subatomic particles that do not consist of other, smaller particles; the gauge bosons, leptons and quarks.