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Glite Dictionary
🌫️ A tiny particle 🔬 Made of particles
particulate

particulate

5 7.4
Made of very small bits that float in air or water
  • adjective
  • /pɑrˈtɪkjʊlɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : particulado
  • Major roadways have been shown to be a significant source of particulate (PM 10) air pollution.
  • particulate matter
  • particulate emissions
  • particulate pollution

This very scientific sounding acronym really just stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter.

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Examples

  • Biodiesel fuel blends deliver benefits in reduced engine emissions of particulate matter.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Chemistry education research has exposed many alternative conceptions about the particulate nature of matter.

    Academic text (2012)

  • After controlling for time and weather, the particulate matter variable was introduced to the model.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Students appeared to lack a sense of both the particulate nature of water and its kinetic properties.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Some states also specify combustion and particulate controls, and some have adopted minimum operating standards.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Although filters work for particulate air pollution, greenhouse gases are not particles.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Pathologically, the most meaningful measure of particulate pollution is not weight, but the number and size of particles.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The HEI study indicates that particulate matter is definitely the culprit in these deaths.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Significant nonattainment problems also exist for carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The air quality report showed that particulate pollution was significantly high in the area.

Synonyms

small
vsparticulate
  • Specialized
380 1.0

Made of very tiny particles

focuses on separation into distinct minute parts rather than a continuous substance
small-grained
vsparticulate
4.0

Made of very small pieces like fine sand

emphasizes being made of separate tiny parts rather than a continuous material
aerosolized
vsparticulate
  • Specialized
8.1

Made of very small liquid or solid particles that float in the air, like spray from an inhaler

means composed of separate particles but not necessarily suspended in air

Antonyms

continuous
141 3.7

Without a break or gap, for example in a curve

Compounds

particulate matter
  • Specialized
4 5.1

Tiny solid or liquid pieces in the air that can harm health

particulate radiation
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A stream of very small bits of matter, like atoms, that carries energy and can pass through things

How Dispersed

particulate
  • Specialized
5 7.4
dispersed particles
  • Specialized
1 6.7
cluster
210 3.1

Surface Forms

particulate positive

Morphology

particulate = particle (semi-transparent) = particle + ate

The adjective is recognizably built from "particle" plus an adjectival suffix, but the scientific sense is specialized rather than fully predictable.

Etymology

The word particulate comes from the Latin particula, which means 'small part', and is related to familiar words like part and particle. So when something is described as particulate it is made of many tiny, separate pieces rather than one smooth whole.