particular

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Of, belonging to, or associated with a specific person, group, thing, or category; not general or universal: has a particular preference for Chinese art.
2. adj. Separate and distinct from others of the same group, category, or nature: made an exception in this particular case.
3. adj. Worthy of note; exceptional: a piano performance of particular depth and fluidity.
4. adj. Of, relating to, or providing details: gave a particular description of the room.
5. adj. Attentive to or concerned with details or niceties, often excessively so; meticulous or fussy.
6. adj. Logic Encompassing some but not all of the members of a class or group. Used of a proposition.
7. n. An individual item, fact, or detail: correct in every particular. See Synonyms at item.
8. n. An item or detail of information or news. Often used in the plural: The police refused to divulge the particulars of the case.
9. n. A separate case or an individual thing or instance, especially one that can be distinguished from a larger category or class. Often used in the plural: "What particulars were ambushed behind these generalizations?” ( Aldous Huxley).
10. n. Logic A particular proposition.
11. idiom. in particular Particularly; especially.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Of or concerning a part; pertaining to some and not to all; special; not general.
2. Individual; single; special; apart from others; considered separately.
3. Properly belonging to a single person, place, or thing; peculiar; specially characteristic: as, the particular properties of a plant.
4. Hence Personal; private; individual.
5. Having something that eminently distinguishes; worthy of attention and regard; specially noteworthy; not ordinary; unusual;notable; striking.
6. Attentive to or noting details; minute in examination; careful.
7. Containing or emphasizing details; minute;circumstantial; detailed: as, a full and particular account of an accident.
8. Peculiar; singular; standing out from what is general or ordinary, especially in the way of showing pointed personal attention.
9. Nice in taste; precise; fastidious: as, a man very particular in his diet or dress.
10. In logic, not general; not referring to the whole extent of a class, but only to some individual or individuals in it.
11. =Syn. 1–3. Separate, distinctive.
12. 3 and Peculiar, etc. see special.
13. Circumstantial, etc. See minute.
14. 9, Exact, scrupulous.
15. n. A single instance or matter; a single point or circumstance; a distinct, separate, or minute part or detail.
16. n. A specialist; one who devotes himself to doing things on his own account and not in partnership.
17. n. Private account or interest; personal interest or concern; part; portion; account.
18. n. Individual state or character; special peculiarity.
19. n. A minute and detailed account; a minute: as, a particular of premises; a particular of a plaintiff's demand, etc.
20. n. Something specially made for, belonging to, or the choice of a person: as, he drank a glass of his own particular.
21. To particularize.
22. n. A humorous name for a London fog.

Wiktionary

1. adj. obsolete Pertaining only to a part of something; partial.
2. adj. Specific; discrete; concrete.
3. adj. Specialised; characteristic of a specific person or thing.
4. adj. obsolete Known only to an individual person or group; confidential.
5. adj. Distinguished in some way; special (often in negative constructions).
6. adj. comparable Of a person, concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; precise; fastidious.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Relating to a part or portion of anything; concerning a part separated from the whole or from others of the class; separate; sole; single; individual; specific.
2. adj. Of or pertaining to a single person, class, or thing; belonging to one only; not general; not common; hence, personal; peculiar; singular.
3. adj. Separate or distinct by reason of superiority; distinguished; important; noteworthy; unusual; special.
4. adj. Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise; ; hence, nice; fastidious.
5. adj. Containing a part only; limited.
6. adj. Holding a particular estate.
7. adj. (Logic) Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject
8. n. A separate or distinct member of a class, or part of a whole; an individual fact, point, circumstance, detail, or item, which may be considered separately.
9. n. obsolete Special or personal peculiarity, trait, or character; individuality; interest, etc.
10. n. (Law) One of the details or items of grounds of claim; -- usually in the pl.; also, a bill of particulars; a minute account.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. first and most important
2. adj. unique or specific to a person or thing or category
3. adj. separate and distinct from others of the same group or category
4. n. (logic) a proposition that asserts something about some (but not all) members of a class
5. adj. exacting especially about details
6. n. a fact about some part (as opposed to general)
7. adj. surpassing what is common or usual or expected
8. adj. providing specific details or circumstances
9. n. a small part that can be considered separately from the whole