Jump To:

• quad
  quad

  noun

  a quadrangle as on a college campus.
• quad.
  quad.

  abbreviation

  quadrangle.

quad

¹ American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

noun

Informal.

1. a quadrangle as on a college campus.

   The downpour started before we were halfway across the quad.

---

quad ² American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

noun

1. Also called quadrat.  a piece of type metal of less height than the lettered types, serving to cause a blank in printed matter, used for spacing.

   a wooden box of assorted quads.

---

verb (used with object)

quadded, quadding

1. to space out (matter) by means of quads.

   You'll need to quad this column tightly—the editor's letter is running a little long.

quad ³ American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

noun

Informal.

1. a quadruplet.

   Can you believe how tiny those quads are?

---

quad ⁴ American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

adjective

1. quadraphonic.

   I remember when my quad turntable was the hottest new thing in record players.

---

noun

1. quadraphonic sound, or an electronic system for reproducing it.

   The recording sounded best in quad.

quad ⁵ American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

adjective

1. designating or comprising four persons or things.

   rates for quad occupancy; a quad-level house.

---

noun

1. Informal. quadruple occupancy.

   Rates are based on quad.

quad ⁶ American  

[kwod] / kwɒd /

noun

Informal.

1. quadriplegic.

   a special ward for quads.

---

quad ⁷ American  

noun

Informal.

1. quadricep.

   Flex the right quad and push your weight toward the right heel.

---

quad ⁸ American  

noun

Informal.

1. quadcopter.

   These affordable quads are a boon to both amateur and professional photographers.

---

quad. ⁹ American  

abbreviation

1. quadrangle.

2. quadrant.

---

quad ¹ British  

/ kwɒd /

adjective

1. short for quadraphonic or quadraphonics See quadraphonic

---

noun

1. anatomy short for quadriceps

quad. ² British  

abbreviation

1. quadrangle

2. quadrilateral

---

quad ³ British  

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. short for quadrangle

---

quad ⁴ British  

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. printing a block of type metal used for spacing

---

quad ⁵ British  

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. a variant spelling of quod

---

quad ⁶ British  

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. short for quadruplet

---

Other Word Forms

• unquadded
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of quad¹

First recorded in 1810–20; by shortening

Origin of quad²

First recorded in 1875–80; shortening of quadrat

Origin of quad³

First recorded in 1895–1900; by shortening

Origin of quad⁴

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of quad⁵

First recorded in 1880–85; shortening of quadruple or words formed with quadri-

Origin of quad⁶

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of quad⁷

First recorded in 1955–60; by shortening

Origin of quad⁸

First recorded in 2010–15; by shortening

Explanation

A quad is a rectangular shaped area, especially on a university campus, that's enclosed by buildings. Your college friend might tell you to meet her in the quad after lunch. Quad is an abbreviation, most commonly short for quadrangle, a kind of four-sided courtyard usually defined by a large lawn and surrounded by buildings. Another kind of quad — also an abbreviation — is the large muscle in the top of your thigh, more formally known as a quadriceps muscle. Quadrangle and its nickname, quad, were 1800's Oxford slang, from the Latin root quadri, or "four."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quad quad.

An enrollment boom after World War II prompted the university to set up an auxiliary residential campus 2 miles south of the main quad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

Concerns have been raised over the impact of quad bike riders on wildlife in a woodland area near Muff, County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

On Monday, the brother shared videos with AFP showing settlers riding quad bikes past the house while Israeli forces were stationed outside.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

Savannah crossed town to the University of Arizona, her alma mater, and strode the quad in sunglasses and a sundress, trailed by the marching band playing the school’s fight song, “Bear Down, Arizona.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Eventually I went and tracked down Johanna on the quad.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

“LeBron James won a championship on a torn quad. You can do this!” her coach and boyfriend Dean Kruse chirped.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 15, 2016

“He said he felt something pop in his quad. That’s all I know right now. I’d be very surprised if he went on the DL but I don’t know that for sure yet.”

From Washington Times ● Jul. 6, 2014

I had the claimants one on each side of me, and by judiciously boring either quad. when it seemed inclined to draw ahead, I kept 'em fairly level.

From The Path to Honour by Sydney C. Grier

Ardiune, walking round the quad. five minutes later, accosted Joan Butler, Janet Macpherson, Nancie Page, and Isobel Parker, who were sitting on the steps of the sundial reading Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s Poems of Love.

From The Madcap of the School by Balliol Salmon