quadrangle

American  

[kwod-rang-guhl] / ˈkwɒdˌræŋ gəl /

noun

1. a plane figure having four angles and four sides, as a square.

2. a square or quadrangular space or court that is surrounded by a building or buildings, as on a college campus.

3. the building or buildings around such a space or court.

4. the area shown on one of the standard topographic map sheets published by the U.S. Geological Survey: approximately 17 miles (27 km) north to south and from 11 to 15 miles (17 to 24 km) east to west.

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quadrangle British  

/ kwɒˈdræŋɡjʊlə, ˈkwɒdˌræŋɡəl /

noun

1. geometry a plane figure consisting of four points connected by four lines. In a complete quadrangle , six lines connect all pairs of points

2. Often shortened to: quad.  a rectangular courtyard, esp one having buildings on all four sides

3. the building surrounding such a courtyard

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Other Word Forms

• quadrangled adjective
• quadrangular adjective

Etymology

Origin of quadrangle

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin quadrangulum, noun use of neuter of Latin quadrangulus, quadriangulus four-cornered. See quadr-, angle ¹

Explanation

A quadrangle is a four-sided polygon, like a square or rectangle. On a college campus, the quadrangle could be the grassy rectangular space between dorms, where co-eds throw Frisbees and flirt. Most college campuses have at least one quadrangle, a rectangular public area made cozy by surrounding buildings. The college quadrangle is almost always referred to as the quad, and this has been true since the 1820s when it became popular slang at Oxford University. The Late Latin quadrangulum, or "four-sided figure," inspired the word quadrangle.

Example Sentences

A 60-room, brick-and-stone manor built in a quadrangle around a timber-framed hall, Hopwood Hall had seen better centuries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

The matter has now been referred back to the cabinet after the council's scrutiny commission said the council should specify which flags would be flown on the fourth pole in the quadrangle.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2025

Ciulla pulled together quadrangle maps, rectangular maps that cover a set amount of latitude and longitude and were mapped at a scale where one inch represents 2000 feet.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

And, along those same lines, it might be permissible to say you can’t demonstrate loudly in a college library even though you can rally in the campus quadrangle.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024

Forming the west side of the quadrangle, King Hall had been built almost thirty years later for the University of Chicago’s education department.

From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett