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, adjectiveWords nearby quadrant
Example sentences from the Web for quadrant
British Dictionary definitions for quadrant
quadrant
/ (ˈkwɒdrənt) /
noun
geometry
- a quarter of the circumference of a circle
- the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle and its circumference
- 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), adjectiveWord Origin for quadrant
C14: from Latin
quadrāns a quarter
Medical definitions for quadrant
quadrant
[ kwŏd′rənt ]
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•ran′tic (kwŏ-drăn′tĭk) adj.Scientific definitions for quadrant
quadrant
[ kwŏd′rənt ]
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.