quad·rant

(kwŏd′rənt)

1. Mathematics

a. A circular arc of 90°; one fourth of the circumference of a circle.

b. The plane area bounded by such an arc and two perpendicular radii.

c. Any of the four areas into which a plane is divided by the reference axes in a Cartesian coordinate system, designated first, second, third, and fourth, counting counterclockwise from the area in which both coordinates are positive.

2. A machine part or other mechanical device that is shaped like a quarter circle.

3. An early instrument for measuring altitude of celestial bodies, consisting of a 90° graduated arc with a movable radius for measuring angles.

[Middle English, quarter of a day, from Latin quadrāns, quadrant-, a fourth part; see k^wetwer- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

quadrant

(ˈkwɒdrənt)

1. (Mathematics) geometry

a. a quarter of the circumference of a circle

b. the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle and its circumference

c. any of the four sections into which a plane is divided by two coordinate axes

2. (Mechanical Engineering) a piece of a mechanism in the form of a quarter circle, esp one used as a cam or a gear sector

3. (Astronomy) 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

[C14: from Latin quadrāns a quarter]

quadrantal adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

quad•rant

(ˈkwɒd rənt)

n.

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. one of the four parts into which a plane, as the face of a heavenly body, is divided by two perpendicular lines: the first quadrant of the moon.

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

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin quadrant-, s. of quadrāns fourth part]

quad·rant

(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. An instrument with an arc of 90°, used to measure the angle between a celestial object and the horizon.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

quadrant

- A quarter of a circle or sphere.

quadrant

an instrument for measuring angular elevation, used in astronomy, navigation, surveying, etc., similar in principle to the sextant. — quadrantal, ad].

See also: Instruments

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	quadrant - a quarter of the circumference of a circle quarter-circle line - a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
	2.	quadrant - any of the four areas into which a plane is divided by two orthogonal coordinate axes area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country"
	3.	quadrant - the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country"
	4.	quadrant - a measuring instrument for measuring altitude of heavenly bodies measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system - instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something

Translations

kvadrantti

kvadrant

quadrant

[ˈkwɒdrənt] N → cuadrante m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

quadrant

[ˈkwɒdrənt] n → quadrant m

quadrant

n → Quadrant m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

quadrant

[ˈkwɒdrənt] n → quadrante m

quad·rant

n. cuadrante, cuarta parte de un círculo.

quadrant

n cuadrante m; left lower — cuadrante inferior izquierdo right upper — cuadrante superior derecho