particular
//pəˈtɪk.jʊ.lə//
Forms
- Comparative
- more particular
- Superlative
- most particular
- Plural
- particulars
Definitions
1.Specific; discrete; concrete.
- I couldn't find the particular model you asked for, but I hope this one will do.
- We knew it was named after John Smith, but nobody knows which particular John Smith.
2.Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.
- I don't appreciate your particular brand of cynicism.
3.Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).
- She was the particular belle of the party.
- I didn't have any particular interest in the book.
- My five favorite places are, in no particular order, New York, Chicago, Paris, San Francisco and London.
4.Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; fastidious.
- These women are more particular about their appearance.
- There is a scraper as well as a mat, and Mrs. Challenger is most particular.
- He is very particular about his food and if it isn't cooked to perfection he will send it back.
1.A small individual part of something larger; a detail, a point.
2.A particular case; an individual thing as opposed to a whole class. (Opposed to generals, universals.)
- When we examine common words, we find that, broadly speaking, proper names stand for particulars, while other substantives, adjectives, prepositions, and verbs stand for universals.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1045
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English particuler, from Anglo-Norman particuler, Middle French particuler, particulier, from Late Latin particularis (“partial; separate, individual”), from Latin particula (“(small) part”).
Equivalent to particle + -ar.
Compare particle.