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quadrant |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
quadrant, in analytic geometryquadrant.1 In analytic geometry, one of the four regions of the plane determined by two lines, the x-axis and the y-axis. Commonly these lines are drawn perpendicular to each other, and the quadrants, or regions, they determine are numbered counterclockwise, beginning with the upper right quadrant. 2 In geometry, a region of a plane determined by two perpendicular radii of a circle and the circle itself. Thus two perpendicular diameters of a circle divide it into four regions, or quadrants. quadrant, in technologyquadrant, in technology, angle-measuring device based on a scale of 90°. It is sometimes confused with the sextant sextant, instrument for measuring the altitude of the sun or another celestial body; such measurements can then be used to determine the observer's geographical position or for other navigational, surveying, or astronomical applications...... Click the link for more information. , a similar instrument based on a scale of 60°. The quadrant is rarely used today. quadrant 1. Geometry a. a quarter of the circumference of a circle b. the area enclosed by two perpendicular radii of a circle and its circumference c. any of the four sections into which a plane is divided by two coordinate axes 2. a piece of a mechanism in the form of a quarter circle, esp one used as a cam or a gear sector 3. an instrument formerly used in astronomy and navigation for measuring the altitudes of stars, consisting of a graduated arc of 90? and a sighting mechanism attached to a movable arm How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Well that Ahab's quadrant was furnished with colored glasses, through which to take sight of that solar fire. Under that, the miscellany began--a quadrant, a tin canikin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace of very handsome pistols, a piece of bar silver, an old Spanish watch and some other trinkets of little value and mostly of foreign make, a pair of compasses mounted with brass, and five or six curious West Indian shells. Before long he knew where Disko kept the old green-crusted quadrant that they called the "hog-yoke" - under the bed-bag in his bunk. |
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