particulate
Americanadjective
noun
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a separate and distinct particle.
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a material composed of such particles.
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particulates,
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the aggregate of such particles, especially as produced by one source.
tests to analyze diesel particulates.
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Meteorology. solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, especially pollutants.
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noun
adjective
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of or made up of separate particles
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genetics of, relating to, or designating inheritance of characteristics, esp with emphasis on the role of genes
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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.
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A substance or suspension composed of such particles, such as sand or smoke.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of particulate
1870–75; < New Latin particulātus, equivalent to Latin particul ( a ) particle + -ātus -ate 1
Vocabulary lists containing particulate
Earth Science - Middle School
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Earth Science - High School
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Human Impacts on Earth Systems - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The air district said it didn’t find significant levels of air toxics during the first two days of the fire, although it did record significantly elevated concentrations of particulate matter within the plume downwind.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
A 2023 Harvard study found that exposure to fine particulate air pollutants from coal-fired power plants had double the risk of mortality from similar particles from other sources.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
Its aim was to reduce the most harmful air pollutants - nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
“You’ve probably noticed that the air looks smoggy today—that’s the particulate matter,” Cohan, the Rice University professor, said via email that day.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
I place one sample in an empty centrifuge so I can analyze the particulate.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
