particulate radiation
- noun
- /pɑrˈtɪkjʊlɪt ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/
- Specialized
- The scientists detected a significant amount of particulate radiation after the nuclear experiment.
Examples
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Exposure to high levels of particulate radiation can pose serious health risks to individuals.
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During the safety drill, the team measured levels of particulate radiation in the facility.
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Variable pulses of particulate radiation?
Fiction book (2000) -
Although the article does note that US helicopters flying 60 miles north of the reactors were found to be "coated in particulate radiation," which seems a touch worrying.
Blog text (20)
Synonyms
A flow of very small particles from radioactive sources that can pass through matter
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally built: 'particulate' means particle-based and 'radiation' means energy emitted, so the combined meaning 'radiation made of particles' is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows a standard adjective+noun modification pattern that is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.
Etymology
Particulate radiation comes from the image of a shower of tiny pieces moving through space like a spray. The word particulate means small particles and radiation means something that spreads out, so the phrase describes a stream of small particles and explains why it means 'radiation made of particles'.