quad1

[kwod] /kwɒd/
noun, Informal.
1.
a quadrangle, as on a college campus.
Origin
1810-20; shortened form

quad2

[kwod] /kwɒd/
noun
1.
Also called quadrat. a piece of type metal of less height than the lettered types, serving to cause a blank in printed matter, used for spacing.
verb (used with object), quadded, quadding.
2.
to space out (matter) by means of quads.
Origin
1875-80; short for quadrat
Related forms
unquadded, adjective

quad3

[kwod] /kwɒd/
noun, Informal.
1.
a quadruplet.
Origin
1895-1900; shortened form

quad4

[kwod] /kwɒd/
adjective
1.
quadraphonic.
noun
2.
quadraphonic sound, or an electronic system for reproducing it:
The recording sounded best in quad.
Origin
by shortening

quad5

[kwod] /kwɒd/
adjective
1.
designating or comprising four persons or things:
rates for quad occupancy; a quad-level house.
noun
2.
Informal. quadruple occupancy:
Rates are based on quad.
Origin
shortening of quadruple or words formed with quadri-

quad6

[kwod] /kwɒd/
noun, Informal.
1.
quadriplegic:
a special ward for quads.
Origin
by shortening

quad.

1.
quadrangle.
2.
quadrant.

quads

[kwodz] /kwɒdz/
plural noun, Informal.
1.
quadriceps muscles.
Origin
by shortening
Examples from the web for quad
  • Put this story down for a moment and take a look at the undergraduates around your desk, outside your office, or out on the quad.
  • We left our books in the room and walked to the convenience store in the center of our quad.
  • Dual-core chips are commonplace, and quad-core chips are spreading too.
  • Expect small waterfalls, hemlock pockets, and quad-killing ascents.
  • The colors were rich and true, and the quad sound was smooth as silk.
  • They were spotted on a quad leaving her family's house near dawn.
  • As long as software is written to exploit multi-threading, it can effectively transform a dual-core machine into a quad-core one.
  • We turn the radio up full blast, put on the bedsheets, and do the toga dance across the quad.
  • quad-core smartphone processors: the new standard in mobile performance.
  • The on-site skate shop features a host of inline, quad and roller hockey skates for sale.
British Dictionary definitions for quad

quad1

/kwɒd/
noun
1.
short for quadrangle (sense 2)

quad2

/kwɒd/
noun
1.
(printing) a block of type metal used for spacing

quad3

/kwɒd/
noun
1.
a variant spelling of quod

quad4

/kwɒd/
noun
1.
short for quadruplet (sense 1)

quad5

/kwɒd/
adjective, noun
1.
short for quadraphonic or quadraphonics See quadraphonic
noun
2.
(anatomy) short for quadriceps

quad bike

noun
1.
a vehicle like a motorcycle with four large wheels, designed for agricultural, sporting, and other off-road uses

quad.

abbreviation
1.
quadrangle
2.
quadrilateral
Contemporary definitions for quad
noun

See quad bike

Word Origin and History for quad

1820 as a shortening of quadrangle (n.) in the building sense (in this case "quadrangle of a college," Oxford student slang); 1880 as short for quadrat (n.); 1896 as quadruplet (n.), originally "bicycle for four riders;" later "one of four young at a single birth" (1951, of armadillos); 1970 as quadraphonic (adj.). Related: Quads.

Slang definitions & phrases for quad

quad

noun
  1. Any architectural quadrangle, esp one at a college or university (1820+)
  2. quod (1804+)
  3. A car having four headlights (1950s+ Hot rodders)
  4. An idiot; fool; spaz, tard: I feel like such a quad, falling on my face while skating with those cute boys (1990s+ Canadian students)

[said to be a shortening of quadrilateral, ''square'']


quads

noun

A set of four headlights on a car (1950s+ Hot rodders)


quad in Technology

character
The rectangle or box glyph used in the APL language for various arcane purposes mostly related to I/O.
[Jargon File]
(2007-05-31)

Related Abbreviations for quad

quad

  1. quadraphonic
  2. quadriceps (thigh muscle)
  3. quadruplet

Quad

quadrangle

quad.

  1. quadrangle
  2. quadrant
  3. quadrilateral
  4. quadrillion

quads

quadriceps (thigh muscles)