quadrant

noun

quad·​rant ˈkwä-drənt 

1

a

: an instrument for measuring altitudes consisting commonly of a graduated arc of 90 degrees with an index or vernier and usually having a plumb line or spirit level for fixing the vertical or horizontal direction

b

: a device or mechanical part shaped like or suggestive of the quadrant of a circle

2

a

: an arc of 90 degrees that is one quarter of a circle

b

: the area bounded by a quadrant and two radii

3

a

: any of the four parts into which a plane is divided by rectangular coordinate axes lying in that plane

b

: any of the four quarters into which something is divided by two real or imaginary lines that intersect each other at right angles

quadrantal

kwä-ˈdran-tᵊl 

adjective

Illustration of quadrant

• quadrant 2

Did you know?

This word is used for a traditional instrument, used to make calculations of altitude and traditionally employed by sailors to navigate, which has a piece shaped like a quarter of a circle. A quadrant shower is a shower that fits snugly into a bathroom corner and displays a curved front, making a quadrant shape on the floor. But perhaps quadrant is used most often today to name a particular quarter of a city.

Examples of quadrant in a Sentence

Draw two intersecting lines that divide the page into four quadrants.

The town is located in the northwest quadrant of the state.

Recent Examples on the Web

Establishing that means venturing into a previously unexplored quadrant of Hollow Earth, where Kong is fending off other monsters while Godzilla patrols the surface, keeping the peace and doing lots of property damage in the process. —Brian Lowry, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

The land, in the southwest quadrant of the intersection between Highways 51 and 19, was purchased for $14.1 million, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024

The mixed material upper has a basic four quadrant pattern when viewed from above, giving it both pattern and texture, but also a streamlined, timeless look that works with most any outfit. —Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2024

In this case, Hill recommends sectioning hair into quadrants and then plaiting or twisting the ends together. —Deanna Pai, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2024

The goal is to move all 15 of your pieces around the board, into your home quadrant (the section of the board closest to you) and then off the playing surface entirely — the first player to clear all their pieces off the board is the winner. —Julia Halperin, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024

Houston mostly plays zone, dividing the field into quadrants for its linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties to defend. —Tom Withers, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024

The putting green is split into four quadrants, with incremental slopes ranging from 0-1% to 3-4% inclines. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

In the past, state tournament brackets were determined by placing sections into certain quadrants of the bracket on a rotating basis. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin quadrant-, quadrans fourth part; akin to Latin quattuor four — more at four

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

quadrant

noun

quad·​rant ˈkwäd-rənt 

1

: an arc of 90° : one quarter of a circle

2

: any of the four quarters into which something is divided by two real or imaginary lines that intersect each other at right angles

Medical Definition

quadrant

noun

quad·​rant ˈkwäd-rənt 

1

: an arc of 90° that is one quarter of a circle

2

: any of the four more or less equivalent segments into which an anatomic structure may be divided by vertical and horizontal partitioning through its midpoint

pain in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen