vector
[ vek-ter ]
/ ˈvɛk tər /
noun
Mathematics.
- a quantity possessing both magnitude and direction, represented by an arrow the direction of which indicates the direction of the quantity and the length of which is proportional to the magnitude.Compare scalar(def 4).
- such a quantity with the additional requirement that such quantities obey the parallelogram law of addition.
- such a quantity with the additional requirement that such quantities are to transform in a particular way under changes of the coordinate system.
- any generalization of the above quantities.
the direction or course followed by an airplane, missile, or the like.
Biology.
- an insect or other organism that transmits a pathogenic fungus, virus, bacterium, etc.
- any agent that acts as a carrier or transporter, as a virus or plasmid that conveys a genetically engineered DNA segment into a host cell.
Computers.
an array of data ordered such that individual items can be located with a single index or subscript.
verb (used with object)
Aeronautics.
to guide (an aircraft) in flight by issuing appropriate headings.
Aerospace.
to change direction of (the thrust of a jet or rocket engine) in order to steer the craft.
Origin of vector
1695–1705; < Latin: one that conveys, equivalent to
vec-, variant stem of
vehere to carry +
-tor
-tor
OTHER WORDS FROM vector
vec·to·ri·al [vek-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-] /vɛkˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjective vec·to·ri·al·ly, adverbWords nearby vector
vealy,
veblen,
veblenian,
veblenism,
vection,
vector,
vector addition,
vector analysis,
vector boson,
vector field,
vector font
Example sentences from the Web for vector
British Dictionary definitions for vector
vector
/ (ˈvɛktə) /
noun
verb (tr)
to direct or guide (a pilot, aircraft, etc) by directions transmitted by radio
to alter the direction of (the thrust of a jet engine) as a means of steering an aircraft
Derived forms of vector
vectorial (vɛkˈtɔːrɪəl), adjective vectorially, adverbWord Origin for vector
C18: from Latin: carrier, from
vehere to convey
Medical definitions for vector
vector
[ vĕk′tər ]
n.
An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host to another.
A bacteriophage, a plasmid, or another agent that transfers genetic material from one location to another.
A quantity, such as velocity, completely specified by a magnitude and a direction.
Scientific definitions for vector
vector
[ vĕk′tər ]
A quantity, such as the velocity of an object or the force acting on an object, that has both magnitude and direction. Compare scalar.
An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that spreads pathogens from one host to another.
A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.
Cultural definitions for vector
vector
In physics and mathematics, any quantity with both a magnitude and a direction. For example, velocity is a vector because it describes both how fast something is moving and in what direction it is moving. Because velocity is a vector, other quantities in which velocity is a factor, such as acceleration and momentum, are vectors also.