droplets

IPA/ˈdrɒp.lət/
KK[drˈɑpləts]IPA/ˈdrɑːp.lət/

droplets — noun

  • dropletssingular
  • dropletsesplural

1. a very small, round piece of liquid that is much smaller than a usual drop and c

1.nounB2
Definition

a very small, round piece of liquid that is much smaller than a usual drop and can float in the air or cover a surface

Example

Mira wiped the droplets of water from her glasses with a tissue.

collocation: droplets of + [liquid]

Tiny droplets of oil floated on the surface of the soup.

Common collocations
  • water droplets
  • oil droplets
  • tiny droplets
  • small droplets
  • liquid droplets
  • respiratory droplets
  • droplets of water
  • droplets of sweat
  • droplets of blood
Synonyms
  • drop

    the general word for any small amount of liquid; 'droplet' specifically means a very tiny drop

  • bead

    suggests a perfectly round, often stationary drop, as in beads of sweat or dew

  • globule

    more technical or scientific; any small spherical mass of liquid

Grammar Patterns

droplets + of + [liquid]

Usage Note

The singular form 'droplet' exists but is much less common than the plural. In everyday English, 'droplet' almost always appears as 'droplets'.

Common Mistakes

A droplets of water fell on my hand.
A droplet of water fell on my hand.
'droplets' is the plural form; use 'droplet' (without -s) when referring to one.
There were droplets on the table.
There were droplets of water on the bathroom mirror.
'droplets' is most natural when you specify what liquid they are made of.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Drop' is the most general and common word for any small amount of liquid (CEFR A1) — you can say a drop of rain, a drop of oil, or a drop of medicine. 'Droplet' specifically emphasises that the drop is very small, often so tiny that many of them appear together like mist or spray. 'Bead' suggests a perfectly round, separate drop that stays on a surface, such as beads of sweat on someone's forehead or beads of dew on grass. 'Globule' is a more scientific term for any small spherical mass of liquid and is rare in everyday conversation. 'Speck' is not limited to liquids — it can be a tiny piece of dust or dirt. For describing morning mist, cough spray, or tiny oil particles in water, 'droplets' is the most natural and precise choice.

drop ↗bead ↗globule ↗speck ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • droplets of water
  • tiny droplets
  • fine droplets

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishFrenchEnglish

The word is formed by adding the diminutive suffix '-let' (meaning 'small') to the noun 'drop'. So 'droplet' literally means 'a little drop'. 'Drop' comes from Old English 'droppa', and the '-let' suffix was borrowed from Old French '-elet'.

First known use

1616

1616, in the meaning defined above