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
The site is located in the northwest quadrant of an approximately 42-acre vacant property in the Baker neighborhood.
—
Kyle Newman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The other quadrant in Denver is out of the East Region, with Big Ten Tournament runner-up Wisconsin getting a No. 3 seed and No. 14 seed Montana in the first round.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025
The region is located within Mare Crisium, a 300-mile-wide basin in the northeast quadrant of the moon's near side, that is believed to have been created by early volcanic eruptions and flooded with basaltic lava more than 3 billion years ago.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Fresno State’s ranking means Boise State’s victory only qualifies as a Quad 4 win — the lowest quadrant available.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quadrant
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Kyle Newman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The other quadrant in Denver is out of the East Region, with Big Ten Tournament runner-up Wisconsin getting a No. 3 seed and No. 14 seed Montana in the first round.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025
The region is located within Mare Crisium, a 300-mile-wide basin in the northeast quadrant of the moon's near side, that is believed to have been created by early volcanic eruptions and flooded with basaltic lava more than 3 billion years ago.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Fresno State’s ranking means Boise State’s victory only qualifies as a Quad 4 win — the lowest quadrant available.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quadrant
Cite this Entry
“Quadrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrant. Accessed 5 Apr. 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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