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quasiparticle

American

[kwey-zahy-pahr-ti-kuhl, kwey-sahy-, kwah-see, -zee-] / ˌkweɪ zaɪˈpɑr tɪ kəl, ˌkweɪ saɪ-, ˌkwɑ si, -zi- /

noun

Physics.

an entity, as an exciton or phonon, that interacts with elementary particles, but does not exist as a free particle.

Etymology

Origin of quasiparticle

First recorded in 1955–60; quasi- + particle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The electron and hole remain linked as a short-lived quasiparticle until the electron falls back and emits light.

From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2026

The search for the Majorana quasiparticle is following a similar dynamic.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 20, 2023

If this Majorana quasiparticle could be corralled and controlled, the payoff would be twofold.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 20, 2023

Now, for the first time, Austrian scientists led by Rudolf Grimm have been able to observe in experiments how Fermi polarons -- a special type of quasiparticle -- can interact with each other.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2023

Pairs of the quasiparticle could encode information in their memory of how they have circled around one another.

From Nature • Jul. 2, 2020

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023