quadrant

[ kwod-ruhnt ]

noun

1. a quarter of a circle; an arc of 90°.
2. the area included between such an arc and two radii drawn one to each extremity.
3. something shaped like a quarter of a circle, as a part of a machine.
4. 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.

5. an instrument, usually containing a graduated arc of 90°, used in astronomy, navigation, etc., for measuring altitudes.
6. Astrology. one of the four quarters of the horoscope: determined by the ascendant, nadir, descendant, and midheaven and numbered counterclockwise from the ascendant.
7. Furniture. one of two metal sliding pieces, of quadrant form, used to support the fall front of a desk from above.

quadrant

/ kwɒˈdræntəl; ˈkwɒdrənt /

noun

1. geometry
   1. a quarter of the circumference of a circle
   2. the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle and its circumference
   3. any of the four sections into which a plane is divided by two coordinate axes
2. a piece of a mechanism in the form of a quarter circle, esp one used as a cam or a gear sector
3. 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

quadrant

/ kwŏd′rənt /

1. An arc equal to one quarter of the circumference of a circle; an arc of 90°.
2. 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).
3. A navigational instrument similar to a sextant but with an arc of 90° rather than 60°.
4. See more at sextant

Derived Forms

• quadrantal, adjective

Other Words From

• quad·ran·tal [kwo-, dran, -tl], adjective
• quadrant·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quadrant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of quadrant¹

C14: from Latin quadrāns a quarter

Example Sentences

They often happen in thunderstorms in rain bands away from the eye of the storm - typically forming in the right quadrant of a storm, the weather service notes.

From BBC

The complicated process involves Maryland taking over control of the track, building a training center and eventually closing Laurel Park to shift full-time racing to Pimlico in the northwest quadrant of Baltimore.

From Seattle Times

“Don’t ever call me that again, or I will vaporize you across ten galactic quadrants!”

From Literature

The roundhouse's southwest quadrant was reserved for keeping lambs indoors.

From Science Daily

“For a pitcher to be able to throw the fastball to all the different quadrants, it just opens everything else up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fourth
• one-fourth
• part
• portion
• term