vector (redirected from vectoring)

vec·tor  (vktr)

n.

1. Mathematics

a. A quantity, such as velocity, completely specified by a magnitude and a direction.

b. A one-dimensional array.

c. An element of a vector space.

2. Pathology An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host to another.

3. Genetics A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.

4. A force or influence.

5. A course or direction, as of an airplane.

tr.v. vec·tored, vec·tor·ing, vec·tors

To guide (a pilot or aircraft, for example) by means of radio communication according to vectors.

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[Latin, carrier, from vehere, vect-, to carry; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.]

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vec·tori·al (vk-tôr-l, -tr-) adj.

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vector

Noun

1. Maths a variable quantity, such as force, that has magnitude and direction

2. Pathol an animal, usually an insect, that carries a disease-producing microorganism from person to person [Latin: carrier]

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vector  (vktr)

1. A quantity, such as the velocity of an object or the force acting on an object, that has both magnitude and direction. Compare scalar.

2. An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that spreads pathogens from one host to another.

3. A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	vector - a variable quantity that can be resolved into components variable quantity, variable - a quantity that can assume any of a set of values cross product, vector product - a vector that is the product of two other vectors vector sum, resultant - a vector that is the sum of two or more other vectors radius vector - a line connecting a point in space to the origin of a polar coordinate system radius vector - a line connecting a satellite to the center of the body around which it is rotating
	2.	vector - a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction straight line - a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature; "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line" ray - (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point
	3.	vector - any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits a disease; "mosquitos are vectors of malaria and yellow fever"; "fleas are vectors of the plague"; "aphids are transmitters of plant diseases"; "when medical scientists talk about vectors they are usually talking about insects" transmitter animal, animate being, beast, creature, fauna, brute - a living organism characterized by voluntary movement micro-organism, microorganism - any organism of microscopic size agent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents" gene delivery vector, transducing vector - a vector for delivering genes into cells immune carrier, carrier - (medicine) a person (or animal) who has some pathogen to which he is immune but who can pass it on to others
	4.	vector - (genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA to a cell virus - (virology) ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein cosmid - (genetics) a large vector that is made from a bacteriophage and used to clone genes or gene fragments genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms