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quark (1)

quark [ kwawrk ] (plural quarks)


noun 
Definition:
 
basic component of particles: an elementary particle with an electric charge equal to one-third or two-thirds that of the electron. Quarks are believed to be the constituents of baryons and mesons.

[Mid-20th century. Alluding to "three quarks for Mr. Mark" in James Joyce'sFinnegans Wake; because originally there were thought to be three quarks]
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