noun
Uncommon
quark
kwahk
Quark (noun) means In particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles. Example: “Protons are made up of three quarks.”
noun
1
In particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles.
"Protons are made up of three quarks."
"Scientists have never observed a single quark existing on its own."
2
A soft, mild, fresh cheese popular across central and northern Europe.
"She spread quark on her toast instead of cream cheese."
"The recipe calls for a cup of quark and some fresh herbs."
How to use quark
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a tiny particle inside atoms, or a soft European cheese — two unrelated meanings sharing one word.
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Word forms
- Plural
- quarks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Protons are made up of three _____.
Etymology
The physics sense was coined in 1963 by physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who later linked the spelling to a nonsense line in James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake. The cheese sense comes separately from German Quark.
Synonyms
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quark cheese
Frequently asked questions
What does “quark” mean?
The word “quark” means in particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles. In plain terms, either a tiny particle inside atoms, or a soft European cheese — two unrelated meanings sharing one word.
How do you pronounce “quark”?
“Quark” is pronounced kwahk (/kwɑɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “quark” in a sentence?
Here is “quark” used in a sentence: “Protons are made up of three quarks.”
What part of speech is “quark”?
“Quark” is a noun.
Where does the word “quark” come from?
The word “quark” dates back to around 1963 and comes from German. The physics sense was coined in 1963 by physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who later linked the spelling to a nonsense line in James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake. The cheese sense comes separately from German Quark.
Is “quark” a common word?
“Quark” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “quark” have?
“Quark” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and similar particles.
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