particulate

[per-tik-yuh-lit, -leyt, puh-tik-, pahr-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or composed of distinct particles.

noun

1. a separate and distinct particle.

2. a material composed of such particles.

3. particulates,

   1. the aggregate of such particles, especially as produced by one source.

      tests to analyze diesel particulates.

   2. Meteorology.,  solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, especially pollutants.

particulate

/ -ˌleɪt, pɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt /

noun

1. a substance consisting of separate particles

adjective

1. of or made up of separate particles

2. genetics of, relating to, or designating inheritance of characteristics, esp with emphasis on the role of genes

particulate

1. Formed of very small, separate particles. Dust and soot are forms of particulate matter.

1. A very small particle, as of dust or soot. Particulates that are given off by the burning of oil, gasoline, and other fuels can remain suspended in the atmosphere for long periods, where they are a major component of air pollution and smog.

2. A substance or suspension composed of such particles, such as sand or smoke.

Other Word Forms

• nonparticulate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of particulate¹

1870–75; < New Latin particulātus, equivalent to Latin particul ( a ) particle + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It could also help clean up the port, which has long struggled with pollution issues linked to ship engines, diesel trucks and other freight equipment that spews particulate matter into the air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since 2018, the Salton Sea no longer gets an inflow of fresh water, only agricultural runoff, so it is evaporating and shrinking while the exposed, dry lake bed area is expanding, feeding clouds of particulate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Wildfire smoke has been found to be harmful to certain immune cells in the lungs, with a toxicity four times greater than particulates from other types of pollution.

Read more on BBC

At the second Intas factory, inspectors said in their report that records were “routinely manipulated” to cover up the presence of particulate matter — which could include glass, fiber or other contaminants — in the company’s drugs.

Read more on Salon

Studies have found that particulate pollution known as PM 2.5, which is released by vehicles, industrial smokestacks and wildfires, can be attributed to as many as 200,000 excess deaths each year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crude 
• grainy 
• harsh