particle-likeadj.
/ˈpɑːtᵻklˌlʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈpɑrdək(ə)lˌlaɪk/ Physics.
Resembling (that of) a particle, esp. a subatomic particle.
ΚΠ
1929 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 124 375 An attempt to see whether a sharper line of demarcation could be drawn between the particle-like and the wave-like properties of matter.
1960 A. H. Benade Horns, Strings, & Harmony iii. 57 A smooth string whose molecular (particle-like) structure we can ignore.
1973 Sci. Amer. Oct. 104/2 Dirac called his hypothetical particlelike holes positrons.
1990 New Scientist 28 July 52/1 Quantum theory endows matter and energy with both wave and particle-like characteristics.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1929