quark
UK: kwɑːk | US: kwɑːrk
n. 1. (Physics) A fundamental particle that combines to form hadrons (e.g., protons and neutrons).
n. 2. (Informal) A hypothetical or whimsical concept, often used in creative contexts.
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The word "quark" was borrowed by physicist Murray Gell-Mann in 1963 from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, where it appears in the phrase "Three quarks for Muster Mark." Gell-Mann adopted the term for its whimsical sound and lack of prior scientific meaning. Though Joyce likely derived "quark" from the German word Quark (meaning "curd" or "soft cheese"), the particle's name has no direct linguistic connection to its function. The word is treated as monomorphic in scientific usage, with no further morphemic segmentation.
Protons are composed of two up quarks and one down quark.
The theory suggests that quarks are never found in isolation.
Joyce’s invented word "quark" serendipitously named a fundamental particle.
Scientists study quark interactions to understand atomic nuclei.
The term "quark" reflects physics’ playful side in naming discoveries.