quad

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈkwäd 

: quadrangle

quad

2 of 8

noun (2)

: a type-metal space that is one en or more in width

quad

3 of 8

verb

quadded; quadding

transitive verb

: to fill out (something, such as a typeset line) with blank space

quad

4 of 8

noun (3)

plural quads

1

: quadruplet

2

: a ski lift that holds four people

3

: a jump (as in figure skating or skiing) that consists of at least four but less than five revolutions

Last month Leaver announced that Boitano would not try the jump for which he is best known, the quadruple toe loop, at the Olympics. Never performed successfully in competition, the quad has become the slippery grail of skating.

—Jill Smolowe

4

or less commonly quad bike : a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle

quad

5 of 8

adjective

1

: having or composed of four items or elements : quadruple sense 1

The F/A-18 flight-control system … is characterized by quad redundancy, which means that there are essentially four levels of sensing and actuation for each control surface.

—McGraw-Hill Yearbook Of Science And Technology

Quad skates are roller skates that have four wheels arranged in two rows, while inline skates have them in one line.

—Jenee Osterheldt

2

: quadraphonic

Domestic quad listening needs two additional loudspeakers over stereo, and two more amplifiers, plus the black box which allocates some of the sounds to the rear left/right, and others to the front left/right.

—George Steedman

quad

6 of 8

noun (4)

: quadraphonic sound

quad

7 of 8

noun (5)

: a unit of energy equal to one quadrillion British thermal units

quad

8 of 8

noun (6)

plural quads

informal

: the greater extensor muscle of the front of the thigh that is divided into four parts : quadriceps

—usually plural

"Usually after a heptathlon I can tell if I'm not going to do well jumping. My quads get tired."

—Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Dick Williams, Seattle manager, on shortstop Spike Owen's injured quads: "I never had any quads when I played."

—Sports Illustrated

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• close
• court
• courtyard
• enclosure
• inclosure
• patio
• quadrangle
• yard

Examples of quad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Three of the quads were released from the hospital last October, but Chesley never left. —Susan Young, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023

Conservatives looked to a higher authority than campus administrators to block diversity initiatives that seemed to pave the way for scholars of color to mount such challenges from the podium and the quad. —TIME, 23 Oct. 2023

Deion was part of the quad that led the thousands in prayer. —Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2023

They can be loaded up with a variety of equipment, and engage your quads, glutes, and core. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023

In a recent interview with Variety, executive producer Sarah Schechter discussed the unexpected quad relationship and explained why Apa and Sprouse never locked lips on screen. —Kelly Martinez, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023

Johnson performs two sets of Bulgarian split squats, an exercise that's great for building balance while simultaneously hitting the glutes, hamstrings, and quads. —Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 7 Aug. 2023

To reach it, my group steered Ski-Doos over frozen lakes and drove through a blizzard on fat-tired quad bikes, our headlamps turning the snow into brazier sparks. —Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2023

Two-way player Johnny Juzang had a new left quad contusion. —Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 July 2023

Verb

Keep your core, butt, and quads tight, and avoid arching your back. —Shauna Harrison, SELF, 28 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

short for quadrat

Noun (5)

short for quadrillion

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1820, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1879, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

1971, in the meaning defined above

Noun (5)

1974, in the meaning defined above

Noun (6)

1954, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing quad

• quad bike
• quad meet

• quad bike
• quad meet

Kids Definition

quad

noun

ˈkwäd

: quadruplet

Medical Definition

quad

noun

ˈkwäd 

: quadriceps

—usually used in plural