quadrant

[ kwod-ruh nt ]
/ ˈkwɒd rənt /

noun

Origin of quadrant

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin quadrant- (stem of quadrāns) fourth part

OTHER WORDS FROM quadrant

quad·ran·tal [kwo-dran-tl] /kwɒˈdræn tl/, adjective quad·rant·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for quadrant

British Dictionary definitions for quadrant

quadrant
/ (ˈkwɒdrənt) /

noun

geometry
  1. a quarter of the circumference of a circle
  2. the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle and its circumference
  3. any of the four sections into which a plane is divided by two coordinate axes
a piece of a mechanism in the form of a quarter circle, esp one used as a cam or a gear sector
an instrument formerly used in astronomy and navigation for measuring the altitudes of stars, consisting of a graduated arc of 90° and a sighting mechanism attached to a movable arm

Derived forms of quadrant

quadrantal (kwɒˈdræntəl), adjective

Word Origin for quadrant

C14: from Latin quadrāns a quarter

Medical definitions for quadrant

quadrant
[ kwŏdrənt ]

n.

A circular arc of 90 degrees; one fourth of the circumference of a circle.
A quarter portion of any roughly circular anatomical area such as the abdomen, measuring along imaginary axes at right angles to each other.

Other words from quadrant

quad•rantic (kwŏ-drăntĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for quadrant

quadrant
[ kwŏdrənt ]

An arc equal to one quarter of the circumference of a circle; an arc of 90°.
Any of the four regions into which a plane is divided by the axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. The quadrants are numbered counterclockwise one through four, beginning with the quadrant in which both the x- and y-coordinates are positive (usually the upper right quadrant).
A navigational instrument similar to a sextant but with an arc of 90° rather than 60°. See more at sextant.