PARTICIPLE

[noun] [C] - (in grammar) a form of a verb which does not show the verb's tense or subject and which is used to form some tenses and as an adjectiveIn the sentences 'He's sleeping' and 'I've already eaten' the words 'sleeping' and 'eaten' are both participles.In the phrases 'buttered scones' and 'broken heart', the words 'buttered' and 'broken' are both participles acting as adjectives.