quadrant

[kwod-ruh nt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR quadrant ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a quarter of a circle; an arc of 90°.

the area included between such an arc and two radii drawn one to each extremity.

something shaped like a quarter of a circle, as a part of a machine.

Geometry, Astronomy. one of the four parts into which a plane, as the face of a heavenly body, is divided by two perpendicular lines, numbered counterclockwise from upper right: the first quadrant of the moon.

an instrument, usually containing a graduated arc of 90°, used in astronomy, navigation, etc., for measuring altitudes.

Astrology. one of the four quarters of the horoscope: determined by the ascendant, nadir, descendant, and midheaven and numbered counterclockwise from the ascendant.

Furniture. one of two metal sliding pieces, of quadrant form, used to support the fall front of a desk from above.

Origin of quadrant

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin quadrant- (stem of quadrāns) fourth part

Related formsquad·ran·tal

[kwo-dran-tl] /kwɒˈdræn tl/, adjectivequad·rant·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quadrant

term, portion, part, fourth, division, span, section, semester, quad, quadrant, farthing, quartern, quadrangle, quadruplet, quadraphonic

Examples from the Web for quadrant

Contemporary Examples of quadrant

Point it south and it shows you the stars and planets in that quadrant of the sky.
Apps for Kids Who Love to Read: Moonbot Studios, Touch Press, and More
Malcolm Jones
December 24, 2011
People forget all too readily, but Greenspan is a consultant to Pimco, the largest bond manager in this quadrant of the galaxy.
Greenspan's Hidden Agenda
Paul Kedrosky
February 18, 2009

Historical Examples of quadrant

If the rudder is to be kept in a certain adjustment a quadrant is necessary.
Boys' Book of Model Boats
Raymond Francis Yates
Later on, these actions of the Quadrant will be carefully examined.
The Story of the Cotton Plant
Frederick Wilkinson
This operation is closely associated, however, with the action of the quadrant.
The Story of the Cotton Plant
Frederick Wilkinson
Each of the four parts is called a quadrant, and each quadrant has 90 degrees.
Practical Mechanics for Boys
J. S. Zerbe
You were on the board in that quadrant of the ship, and you let it get in too close.
But, I Don't Think
Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for quadrant

quadrant

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 Formsquadrantal (kwɒˈdræntəl), adjective

Word Origin for quadrant

C14: from Latin quadrāns a quarter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quadrant

late 14c., "a quarter of a day, six hours," from Middle French quadrant, from Latin quadrantem (nominative quadrans) "fourth part," also the name of a coin worth a quarter of an as, noun use of present participle of quadrare "to make square; put in order, arrange, complete; run parallel, be exact," figuratively "to fit, suit, be proper," related to quadrus "a square," quattuor "four" (see four). The surveying instrument is first so called c.1400, because it forms a quarter circle. Related: Quadrantal.

quadrant in Medicine

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.

Related formsquad•ran′tic (kwŏ-drăn′tĭk) adj.

quadrant in Science

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.