vector

¹vec·tor

noun \ˈvek-tər\

Definition of VECTOR

1

a : a quantity that has magnitude and direction and that is commonly represented by a directed line segment whose length represents the magnitude and whose orientation in space represents the direction; broadly : an element of a vector space

b : a course or compass direction especially of an airplane

2

a : an organism (as an insect) that transmits a pathogen

b : pollinator a

3

: an agent (as a plasmid or virus) that contains or carries modified genetic material (as recombinant DNA) and can be used to introduce exogenous genes into the genome of an organism

— vector adjective

— vec·to·ri·al \vek-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective

— vec·to·ri·al·ly \-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of VECTOR

1. a mosquito that is the principal vector of yellow fever

Origin of VECTOR

New Latin, from Latin, carrier, from vehere to carry — more at way

First Known Use: 1846

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

Rhymes with VECTOR

hector, lector, nectar, rector, sector, specter

²vector

transitive verb

vec·toredvec·tor·ing \-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of VECTOR

1

: to guide (as an airplane, its pilot, or a missile) in flight by means of a radioed vector

2

: to change the direction of (the thrust of a jet engine) for steering

First Known Use of VECTOR

1941

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat

vector

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In mathematics, a quantity characterized by magnitude and direction. Some physical and geometric quantities, called scalars, can be fully defined by a single number specifying their magnitude in suitable units of measure (e.g., mass in grams, temperature in degrees, time in seconds). Quantities like velocity, force, and displacement must be specified by a magnitude and a direction. These are vectors. A vector quantity can be visualized as an arrow drawn in a specific direction, whose length is equal to the magnitude of the quantity represented. A two-dimensional vector is specified by two coordinates, a three-dimensional vector by three coordinates, and so on. Vector analysis is a branch of mathematics that explores the utility of this type of representation and defines the ways such quantities may be combined. See also vector operations.