quad

¹

[kwod]

noun

Informal.

1. a quadrangle as on a college campus.

   The downpour started before we were halfway across the quad.

quad

²

[kwod]

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

[kwod]

noun

Informal.

1. a quadruplet.

   Can you believe how tiny those quads are?

quad

⁴

[kwod]

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

[kwod]

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

[kwod]

noun

Informal.

1. quadriplegic.

   a special ward for quads.

quad

⁷

noun

Informal.

1. quadricep.

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

quad

⁸

noun

Informal.

1. quadcopter.

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

quad.

⁹

abbreviation

1. quadrangle.

2. quadrant.

quad

¹

/ kwɒd /

adjective

1. short for quadraphonic or quadraphonics See quadraphonic

noun

1. anatomy short for quadriceps

quad.

²

abbreviation

1. quadrangle

2. quadrilateral

quad

³

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. short for quadrangle

quad

⁴

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. printing a block of type metal used for spacing

quad

⁵

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. a variant spelling of quod

quad

⁶

/ kwɒd /

noun

1. short for quadruplet

Other Word Forms

• unquadded adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Example Sentences

The race finishes on a steep descent down a mountain, the kind of terrain where I struggle and that can be agony on shredded quad muscles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Vanderbilt was having an all-around game until he was forced to leave late in the second quarter with a left quad contusion after banging his left knee with a Mavericks defender.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“If you don’t know how to run them they will trash your quads and your calves.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He was seriously injured in a quad bike crash in 2003, and suffered spinal damage in a late night fall in 2019, which ultimately led to him having to cancel his two-and-a-half-year farewell tour.

Read more on BBC

Two quad bikes are pictured parked among trees.

Read more on BBC