Particulate Meaning
/pɑːˈtɪk.jʊ.lɪt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjComposed of separate particles.
adjPertaining to heritable characteristics which are attributable discretely to either one or another of an offspring's parents, rather than a blend of the two.
Sentence Examples
Some cruise ships emit as much particulate matter as 1m cars.
In India's large cities, the air's particulate matter content is frighteningly high.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high-end air filter removes ____ matter from the smoke of wildfires.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The factory was fined for releasing ____ matter into the air above the permitted safety levels.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The rudiments of particulate inheritance were dimly understood already by the breeders of cattle and apples, but nobody was being systematic."
— 1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 41:
"Only after the explosion has particulated the poison and given it every opportunity to vaporize can any appreciable concentration of gas be present in the air."
— 1918 October, S[amuel] J[ames] M[anson] Auld, “The German Gas Attack […]”, in Arthur W[ilson] Page, editor, The World’s Work: A History of Our Time, volume XXXVI, number 6, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, page 646, column 2:
"The study proved that Sialon particulated smaller than 0.5 micron could be sintered without using any auxiliary additives."
— 1984 April 17, The Japan Economic Journal, Tokyo: Nihon Keizai Shimbun, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 17:
"The fascia is then particulated, rechecked for sterility, and loaded into syringes that are vacuum-packaged."
— 2000 July, Cheryl Guttman, “Injectable preserved particulate fascia is safe filler”, in Dermatology Times, Monmouth Junction, N.J.: MultiMedia Healthcare, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 50:
"And I am bolde (contrary to the cuſtome of ſome vvriters) to leaue to particulate in my Epiſtle any part of the argument vvhich vvith ſo great grauitie he hath digeſted ar large in ſo great a volume: […]"
— 1579, Geffray Fenton, “To the Queenes Most Excellent Maiestie, Our […] Ladie Elizabeth, […]”, in Guicciardin [i.e., Francesco Guicciardini], translated by Geffray Fenton, The Historie of Guicciardin, Conteining the Warres of Italie and Other Partes, […], London: […] Thomas Vautroullier […], →OCLC, signatures iiij, recto – iiij, verso:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The high-end air filter removes ____ matter from the smoke of wildfires.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The factory was fined for releasing ____ matter into the air above the permitted safety levels.