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particulate radiation

particulate radiation

1 8.1
A stream of very small bits of matter, like atoms, that carries energy and can pass through things
  • noun
  • /pɑrˈtɪkjʊlɪt ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radiación particulada
  • The scientists detected a significant amount of particulate radiation after the nuclear experiment.

Examples

  • Exposure to high levels of particulate radiation can pose serious health risks to individuals.

  • During the safety drill, the team measured levels of particulate radiation in the facility.

  • 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

corpuscular radiation
vsparticulate radiation
  • Archaic
9.9

A flow of very small particles from radioactive sources that can pass through matter

is the identical scientific concept expressed with an alternative term

Surface Forms

Morphology

particulate + radiation

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'.