Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Quadrant

Quad′rant

,
Noun.
[L.
quadrans
,
-antis
, a fourth part, a fourth of a whole, fr.
quattuor
four: cf. F.
quadrant
,
cadran
. See
Four
, and cf.
Cadrans
.]
1.
The fourth part; the quarter.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
2.
(Geom.)
The quarter of a circle, or of the circumference of a circle, an arc of 90°, or one subtending a right angle at the center.
3.
(Anal. (Geom.)
One of the four parts into which a plane is divided by the coordinate axes. The upper right-hand part is the first quadrant; the upper left-hand part the second; the lower left-hand part the third; and the lower right-hand part the fourth quadrant.
4.
An instrument for measuring altitudes, variously constructed and mounted for different specific uses in astronomy, surveying, gunnery, etc., consisting commonly of a graduated arc of 90°, with an index or vernier, and either plain or telescopic sights, and usually having a plumb line or spirit level for fixing the vertical or horizontal direction.
Gunner’s quadrant
,
an instrument consisting of a graduated limb, with a plumb line or spirit level, and an arm by which it is applied to a cannon or mortar in adjusting it to the elevation required for attaining the desired range.
Gunter's quadrant
.
See
Gunter's quadrant
, in the Vocabulary.
Hadley's quadrant
,
a hand instrument used chiefly at sea to measure the altitude of the sun or other celestial body in ascertaining the vessel's position. It consists of a frame in the form of an octant having a graduated scale upon its arc, and an index arm, or alidade pivoted at its apex. Mirrors, called the index glass and the horizon glass, are fixed one upon the index arm and the other upon one side of the frame, respectively. When the instrument is held upright, the index arm may be swung so that the index glass will reflect an image of the sun upon the horizon glass, and when the reflected image of the sun coincides, to the observer's eye, with the horizon as seen directly through an opening at the side of the horizon glass, the index shows the sun's altitude upon the scale; – more properly, but less commonly, called an octant.
Quadrant of altitude
,
an appendage of the artificial globe, consisting of a slip of brass of the length of a quadrant of one of the great circles of the globe, and graduated. It may be fitted to the meridian, and being movable round to all points of the horizon, serves as a scale in measuring altitudes, azimuths, etc.

Webster 1828 Edition


Quadrant

QUAD'RANT

,
Noun.
[L. quadrans, a fourth.]
1.
The fourth part; the quarter.
2.
In geometry, the quarter of a circle; the arc of a circle containing ninety degrees; also, the space or area included between this arc and two radii drawn from the center to each extremity.
3.
An instrument for taking the altitudes of the sun or stars, of great use in astronomy and navigation. Quadrants are variously made, but they all consist of the quarter of a circle whose limb is divided into ninety degrees; or, as in Hadley's reflecting quadrant, an arc of forty five degrees is made to serve the same purpose as an arc of ninety degrees.
Quadrant of altitude, an appendage of the artificial globe, consisting of a slip of brass of the length of a quadrant of one of the great circles of the globe, and graduated. It is filled to the meridian and movable round to all points of the horizon. It serves as a scale in measuring altitudes, azimuths, &c.

Definition 2024


Quadrant

Quadrant

See also: quadrant

German

Noun

Quadrant m (genitive Quadranten, plural Quadranten)

  1. quadrant (region of the Cartesian plane)
  2. quadrant (measuring device)

Declension

quadrant

quadrant

See also: Quadrant

English

Alternative forms

Noun

quadrant (plural quadrants)

  1. One of the four sections made by dividing an area with two perpendicular lines.
  2. (mathematics) The four regions of the Cartesian plane bounded by the x-axis and y-axis.
  3. (geometry) One fourth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 90°.
  4. (nautical) A measuring device with a graduated arc of 90° used in locating an altitude.

Translations

See also


Catalan

Etymology

From Latin quadrāns (fourth part of something, quarter).

Noun

quadrant m (plural quadrants)

  1. quadrant

French

Etymology

From Latin quadrāns (fourth part of something, quarter).

Noun

quadrant m (plural quadrants)

  1. quadrant

Latin

Verb

quadrant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of quadrō