Extremely small pieces of matter, often microscopic or subatomic. In physics, the fundamental constituents of matter and energy.
From Latin 'particula', diminutive of 'pars' meaning part - literally 'little part'. The scientific sense developed as understanding of matter's structure evolved, from visible specks to invisible atoms to subatomic components.
The word 'particle' reveals humanity's long journey toward understanding matter's true nature. What started as a term for tiny visible specks now describes quarks and bosons that exist in realms far beyond direct observation, yet we still use the same 'little part' concept.
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