a minute part or portion of matter; a morsel; a little bit; an atom; a jot; as, a particle of sand, of wood, of dust.-any very small portion or part; the smallest portion; as, he has not a particle of patriotism or virtue.-a crumb or little piece of concecrated host.-the smaller hosts distributed in the communion of the laity.-a subordinate word that is never inflected (a preposition, conjunction, interjection); or a word that can not be used except in compositions; as, ward in backward, ly in lovely.