particles

noun

1. 1

   A very small piece of matter, a fragment; especially, the smallest possible part of something.

2. 2

   Any of various physical objects making up the constituent parts of an atom; an elementary particle or subatomic particle.

3. 3

   A word that has a particular grammatical function but does not obviously belong to any particular part of speech, such as the word to in English infinitives or O as a vocative particle.

4. 4

   A part of speech which cannot be inflected: an adverb, preposition, conjunction or interjection.

5. 5

   In the Roman Catholic church, a crumb of consecrated bread; also the smaller breads used in the communion of the laity.