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