quadrant

noun

quad·​rant ˈkwä-drənt How to pronounce quadrant (audio)
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 adjective

Illustration of quadrant

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
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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of quadrant was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quadrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrant. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

quadrant

noun
quad·​rant ˈkwäd-rənt How to pronounce quadrant (audio)
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 How to pronounce quadrant (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on quadrant

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