quasiparticle in American English
(ˌkweizaiˈpɑːrtɪkəl, ˌkweisai-, ˌkwɑːsi, -zi-)
nounPhysics an entity, as an exciton or phonon, that interacts with elementary particles, but does not exist as a free particle
Word origin
[1955–60;
quasi- +
particle]This word is first recorded in the period 1955–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: geodesic dome, opioid, rite of passage, rollout, software