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
But with this film, which is not being framed as specifically a kids movie, but an all-audience, four-quadrant epic that happens to be animated, Burke explained that story and the film’s emotional impact need to be front of center.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
The area is divided into six distinct districts, four quadrants around Main Street, plus offshoots at Broad Street and Old Ocean Boulevard.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
On its first Friday, the largest quadrant of ticket buyers (29 percent) was between ages 25 and 34 — a group that is divided evenly between older Gen Z members and younger Millennials — while those between ages 18 and 24 was 11 percent.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Toft said the key to making an arrangement is to craft it in triangular quadrants with the big flowers going first and the small ones after.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quadrant
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Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
The area is divided into six distinct districts, four quadrants around Main Street, plus offshoots at Broad Street and Old Ocean Boulevard.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
On its first Friday, the largest quadrant of ticket buyers (29 percent) was between ages 25 and 34 — a group that is divided evenly between older Gen Z members and younger Millennials — while those between ages 18 and 24 was 11 percent.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Toft said the key to making an arrangement is to craft it in triangular quadrants with the big flowers going first and the small ones after.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quadrant
Cite this Entry
“Quadrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadrant. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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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