quarks

Cultural  

1. In physics, the elementary particles that make up the protons and neutrons that in turn make up the atomic nucleus. Quarks are the most basic known constituent of matter. (See antimatter.)

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No quarks have been seen in the laboratory because, according to current theory, they cannot exist as free particles.

Example Sentences

While a proton contains two up quarks and one down quark, the Ξcc⁺ replaces the up quarks with heavier charm quarks.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

The newly discovered "Xi-cc-plus" contains two "charm" quarks and one "down" quark.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Because the new particle has two heavier "charm" quarks instead of "up" ones, it has a much greater mass.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

"Unlike quarks, which can interact with the plasma, these leptons pass through it largely unscathed, carrying undistorted information about their environment."

From Science Daily • Oct. 29, 2025

Fears have been raised that in their enthusiasm scientists might inadvertently create a black hole or even something called "strange quarks," which could, theoretically, interact with other subatomic particles and propagate uncontrollably.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson