quadrant

[kwod-ruh nt] /ˈkwɒd rənt/

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

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

Related forms

quadrantal

[kwo-dran-tl] /kwɒˈdræn tl/ (Show IPA), adjective

quadrantlike, adjective

Examples from the web for quadrant

quadrant sold some of the below-market-rate homes on a first-come, first-served basis.
Many addresses are found repeated in more than one, so make note of the quadrant.
And that dot now has migrated from the upper right quadrant down to the spinner of the ball.
Moving into each quadrant selects one of eight characters.
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body, occupying the entire upper right quadrant of the abdomen.
For your information, all nations in that quadrant of the globe view such a development with the deepest misgivings.
The existence of this monastery tucked into the northeast quadrant of the nation's capital is a surprise even to many locals.
The only other significant finding was the tenderness in the right upper quadrant of her abdomen.
Except in the southeastern quadrant of the country, bourbon has been shunned as the drink of the rube and the codger.
quadrant sold some of the below-market-rate homes on a first-come, first-serve basis.

British Dictionary definitions for quadrant

quadrant

/ˈkwɒdrənt/

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 Forms

quadrantal (kwɒˈdræntəl) adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Latin quadrāns a quarter

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 quad·rant (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.

quad·ran'tic (kwŏ-drān'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.