1. quadrant(n = noun.location) quarter-circle - a quarter of the circumference of a circle;
is a kind of line
2. quadrant(n = noun.location) - any of the four areas into which a plane is divided by two orthogonal coordinate axes;
is a kind of area, country
3. quadrant(n = noun.location) - the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle;
is a kind of area, country
4. quadrant(n = noun.artifact) - a measuring instrument for measuring altitude of heavenly bodies;
is a kind of measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system
1. The fourth part; the quarter. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
2. The quarter of a circle, or of the circumference of a circle, an arc of 90
3. One of the four parts into which a plane is divided by the coördinate axes. The upper right-hand part is the first quadrant; the upper left-hand part the second; the lower left-hand part the third; and the lower right-hand part the fourth quadrant. [1913 Webster]
4. An instrument for measuring altitudes, variously constructed and mounted for different specific uses in astronomy, surveying, gunnery, etc., consisting commonly of a graduated arc of 90
quadrant, n.
1 a quarter of a circle's circumference.
2 a plane figure enclosed by two radii of a circle at right angles and the arc cut off by them.
3 a quarter of a sphere etc.
4 a a thing, esp. a graduated strip of metal, shaped like a quarter-circle. b an instrument graduated (esp. through an arc of 90°) for taking angular measurements.
Derivative:
quadrantal adj.
Etymology:
ME f. L quadrans -antis quarter f. quattuor four
N quadrisection, quadripartition, quartering, fourth, quart, quarter, quartern, farthing, fourthing, quadrant, quartered, quadrifid, quadripartite, rectangular.
N angularity, angularness, aduncity, angle, cusp, bend, fold, notch, fork, bifurcation, elbow, knee, knuckle, ankle, groin, crotch, crutch, crane, fluke, scythe, sickle, zigzag, kimbo, akimbo, corner, nook, recess, niche, oriel, coign, right angle, obliquity, angle of 45 degrees, miter, acute angle, obtuse angle, salient angle, reentering angle, spherical angle, angular measurement, angular elevation, angular distance, angular velocity, trigonometry, goniometry, altimetry, clinometer, graphometer, goniometer, theodolite, sextant, quadrant, dichotomy, triangle, trigon, wedge, rectangle, square, lozenge, diamond, rhomb, rhombus, quadrangle, quadrilateral, parallelogram, quadrature, polygon, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, oxygon, decagon, pyramid, cone, Platonic bodies, cube, rhomboid, tetrahedron, pentahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron, eicosahedron, prism, pyramid, parallelopiped, curb roof, gambrel roof, mansard roof, angular, bent, crooked, aduncous, uncinated, aquiline, jagged, serrated, falciform, falcated, furcated, forked, bifurcate, zigzag, furcular, hooked, dovetailed, knock kneed, crinkled, akimbo, kimbo, geniculated, oblique, fusiform, wedge-shaped, cuneiform, cuneate, multangular, oxygonal, triangular, trigonal, trilateral, quadrangular, quadrilateral, foursquare, rectangular, square, multilateral, polygonal, cubical, rhomboid, rhomboidal, pyramidal.
N circularity, roundness, rotundity, circle, circlet, ring, areola, hoop, roundlet, annulus, annulet, bracelet, armlet, ringlet, eye, loop, wheel, cycle, orb, orbit, rundle, zone, belt, cordon, band, contrate wheel, crown wheel, hub, nave, sash, girdle, cestus, cincture, baldric, fillet, fascia, wreath, garland, crown, corona, coronet, chaplet, snood, necklace, collar, noose, lasso, lassoo, ellipse, oval, ovule, ellipsoid, cycloid, epicycloid, epicycle, semicircle, quadrant, sextant, sector, sphere, round, rounded, circular, annular, orbicular, oval, ovate, elliptic, elliptical, egg-shaped, pear-shaped, cycloidal, spherical, I watched the little circles die.