par|tial /pɑː r ʃ ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use partial to refer to something that is not complete or whole. □ …a partial ban on the use of cars in the city. □ …partial blindness.
2 ADJ If you are partial to something, you like it. □ [+ to ] He's partial to sporty women with blue eyes. ● par|tial|ity /pɑː r ʃiæ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ for ] He has a great partiality for chocolate biscuits.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is partial supports a particular person or thing, for example in a competition or dispute, instead of being completely fair. □ I might be accused of being partial. ● par|tial|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ She is criticized by some others for her one-sidedness and partiality.
par|tial|ly /pɑː r ʃəli/ ADV If something happens or exists partially , it happens or exists to some extent, but not completely. □ Lisa is deaf in one ear and partially blind.
par|tici|pant /pɑː r t I s I pənt/ (participants ) N‑COUNT The participants in an activity are the people who take part in it. □ 40 of the course participants are offered employment with the company.
par|tici|pate ◆◇◇ /pɑː r t I s I pe I t/ (participates , participating , participated ) VERB If you participate in an activity, you take part in it. □ [V + in ] They expected him to participate in the ceremony. □ [V -ing] …special contracts at lower rates for participating corporations. ● par|tici|pa|tion /pɑː r t I s I pe I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] …participation in religious activities.
par|tici|pa|tive /pɑː r t I s I pət I v/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Participative management or decision-making involves the participation of all the people engaged in an activity or affected by certain decisions. [FORMAL ] □ …a participative management style.
par|tici|pa|tory /pɑː r t I s I pe I təri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A participatory system, activity, or role involves a particular person or group of people taking part in it. □ Fishing is said to be the most popular participatory sport in the U.K.
par|ti|cipi|al /pɑː r t I s I piəl/ ADJ In grammar, participial means relating to a participle.
par|ti|ci|ple /pɑː r t I s I p ə l/ (participles ) N‑COUNT In grammar, a participle is a form of a verb that can be used in compound tenses of the verb. There are two participles in English: the past participle, which usually ends in '-ed', and the present participle, which ends in '-ing'.
par|ti|cle /pɑː r t I k ə l/ (particles )
1 N‑COUNT A particle of something is a very small piece or amount of it. □ [+ of ] There is a particle of truth in his statement. □ …food particles.
2 N‑COUNT In physics, a particle is a piece of matter smaller than an atom, for example an electron or a proton. [TECHNICAL ]
3 N‑COUNT In grammar, a particle is a preposition such as 'into' or an adverb such as 'out' which can combine with a verb to form a phrasal verb.
pa r|ti|cle ac|ce l|era|tor (particle accelerators ) N‑COUNT A particle accelerator is a machine used for research in nuclear physics which can make particles that are smaller than atoms move very fast.
pa r|ti|cle phys|ics N‑UNCOUNT Particle physics is the study of the qualities of atoms and molecules and the way they behave and react.
par|ticu|lar ◆◆◇ /pə r t I kjʊlə r /
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use particular to emphasize that you are talking about one thing or one kind of thing rather than other similar ones. [EMPHASIS ] □ I remembered a particular story about a postman who was a murderer. □ I have to know exactly why it is I'm doing a particular job.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If a person or thing has a particular quality or possession, it is distinct and belongs only to them. □ I have a particular responsibility to ensure I make the right decision.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use particular to emphasize that something is greater or more intense than usual. [EMPHASIS ] □ Particular emphasis will be placed on oral language training.
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is particular , you mean that they choose things and do things very carefully, and are not easily satisfied. □ [+ about ] Ted was very particular about the colors he used.
5 → see also particulars
6 PHRASE You use in particular to indicate that what you are saying applies especially to one thing or person. □ The situation in rural areas in particular is worrying. □ Why should he notice her car in particular?
7 PHRASE You use nothing in particular or nobody in particular to mean nothing or nobody important or special. □ Drew made some remarks to nobody in particular and said goodbye. SYNONYMS particular ADJ
1
specific: There are several specific problems to be dealt with.
exact: I don't remember the exact words.
precise: He was not clear on the precise nature of his mission.
2
speciaclass="underline" Just to see him was something special.
exceptionaclass="underline" …children with exceptional ability.
notable: With a few notable exceptions, doctors are a pretty sensible lot.
remarkable: It was a remarkable achievement.