The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word PARTICULATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result PARTICULATE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "consisting of very small pieces" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case consisting of very small pieces = particulate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
Crossword Answer definitions
PARTICULATE noun- (chiefly in plural) Any solid or liquid in a subdivided state, especially one that exhibits special characteristics which are negligible in the bulk material.
- Composed of separate particles.
- Pertaining to heritable characteristics which are attributable discretely to either one or another of an offspring's parents, rather than a blend of the two.