Pār'ti·cle, n.
(pär'ti-kl), n. [Lat. particula, dim. of pars, partis, a part; Fr. particule, Sp. particula, It. particula, particula.]
Sense 1. A minute part or portion of matter; a very small substance; an atom; a jot; as, a particle of sand, of lime, or of light.
Sense 2. Any very small portion or part; as, he has not a particle of patriotism or virtue; he would not resign a particle of his property.
Sense 3. (Rom. Cath. Church.) (a.) A crumb or little piece of consecrated bread. (b.) The smaller breads distributed in the communion of the laity. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
Sense 4. (Gram.) A word that is never inflected, and which has a subordinate office in the sentence, as a preposition.