Illustration of quadrant
- quadrant 2
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
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
To put it in simplest terms, quadrants are a way to separate and weigh games depending on where they were played, who they were played against, and the expected winning percentage against an opponent’s NET ranking.
—
Mark Schindler, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Instead the Danish territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands get their own quadrants, represented by a bear and a ram.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
This is one of those rare projects that will captivate all four quadrants, and do so genuinely and earnestly.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
This quadrant comprises activities that are both urgent and important.
—Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for quadrant 
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Mark Schindler, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Instead the Danish territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands get their own quadrants, represented by a bear and a ram.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
This is one of those rare projects that will captivate all four quadrants, and do so genuinely and earnestly.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
This quadrant comprises activities that are both urgent and important.
—Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for quadrant
Dictionary Entries Near quadrant
Cite this Entry
“Quadrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrant. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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