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 league installed four back-up generators for that game (one for each of four quadrants of the stadium) and conducted a capacity test in the Meadowlands several months before the game.
—
Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 3 Feb. 2025
The committee ushered in the use of quadrants over their summer meetings, which was the most significant change for this season.
—Mark Schindler, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Both the constellation and the shower are named after an instrument called the quadrant, which was once used to measure the altitudes of stars and other bodies in the night sky.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
To do this, mark four quadrants with stakes and trickle the hose into each quadrant until a long screwdriver easily penetrates 8 inches into the soil.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for quadrant 
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Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 3 Feb. 2025
The committee ushered in the use of quadrants over their summer meetings, which was the most significant change for this season.
—Mark Schindler, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Both the constellation and the shower are named after an instrument called the quadrant, which was once used to measure the altitudes of stars and other bodies in the night sky.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
To do this, mark four quadrants with stakes and trickle the hose into each quadrant until a long screwdriver easily penetrates 8 inches into the soil.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 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 16 Feb. 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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