quark

[ kwawrk, kwahrk ]

noun

1. Physics. any of the hypothetical particles with spin 1/2, baryon number 1/3, and electric charge 1/3 or −2/3 that, together with their antiparticles, are believed to constitute all the elementary particles classed as baryons and mesons; they are distinguished by their flavors, designated as up (u), down (d), strange (s), charm (c), bottom or beauty (b), and top or truth (t), and their colors, red, green, and blue. Compare color ( def 18 ), flavor ( def 5 ), quantum chromodynamics, quark model.

quark

¹

/ kwɑːk /

noun

1. a type of low-fat soft cheese

quark

²

/ kwɑːk /

noun

1. physics any of a set of six hypothetical elementary particles together with their antiparticles thought to be fundamental units of all baryons and mesons but unable to exist in isolation. The magnitude of their charge is either two thirds or one third of that of the electron

quark

/ kwôrk,kwärk /

1. Any of a group of elementary particles supposed to be the fundamental units that combine to make up the subatomic particles known as hadrons (baryons, such as neutrons and protons, and mesons). There are six different flavors (or types) of quark: up quark, down quark, top quark, bottom quark, charm quark, and strange quark. Quarks have fractional electric charges, such as 1 3 the charge of an electron.
2. See Note at elementary particleSee Table at subatomic particle

Word History and Origins

Origin of quark¹

Coined in 1963 by U.S. physicist Murray Gell-Mann (1929–2019), who associated it with a word in Joyce's Finnegans Wake, read variously as English quark croak and German Quark curd, (slang) rubbish, tripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of quark¹

from German

Origin of quark²

C20: coined by James Joyce in the novel Finnegans Wake, and given special application in physics

Example Sentences

In this process, the quark turns into an anti-quark and the anti-quark turns into a quark.

From Singularity Hub 

This unique trait has led scientists to believe that some extreme physics might take place in their innards — perhaps even the dissolution of neutrons themselves into a softer goo known as quark matter.

From Quanta Magazine

For example, particles known as quarks — usually contained within protons and neutrons — may roam freely in a neutron star’s center.

From Science News

For example, if quarks are free agents within the most massive neutron stars, the immense pressure will compress the neutron star’s core more than if quarks remain within neutrons.

From Science News

Mashed together in different combinations, quarks make up a variety of larger particles, including protons and neutrons.

From Science News

Jemmy Quark left him, and, rushing to the town, cried out that something horrible had washed ashore.

From Project Gutenberg

There was now a sublime scorn printed on the features of Jemmy Quark.

From Project Gutenberg