: 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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Most of the northeastern quadrant of the country from Minnesota to Maine was under some type of heat advisory.—Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 22 June 2025 The median home value reported by the Census Bureau is $322,000, but this figure is bound to far higher in the western quadrant.—Andrew Depietro, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Alley Pond Park, in northern Queens, has areas in all four quadrants within its 600 acres: high health, low threat; high health, high threat; low health, low threat; low health, high threat.—Robert Sullivan, Curbed, 9 June 2025 Photo : David Westphal, courtesy of Cadillac A smart-glass roof features four quadrants for passengers to control opacity.—Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for quadrant
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin quadrant-, quadrans fourth part; akin to Latin quattuor four — more at four
: 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
Share