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quadrantmore about quadrant

quadrant

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Quadrant  \Quad"rant\,  n.  [L.  quadrans,  -antis,  a  fourth  part  a 
  fourth  of  a  whole,  fr  quattuor  four:  cf  F.  quadrant, 
  cadran.  See  {Four},  and  cf  {Cadrans}.] 
  1.  The  fourth  part  the  quarter.  [Obs.]  --Sir  T.  Browne. 
 
  2.  (Geom.)  The  quarter  of  a  circle,  or  of  the  circumference 
  of  a  circle,  an  arc  of  90[deg],  or  one  subtending  a  right 
  angle  at  the  center. 
 
  3.  (Anal.  (Geom.)  One  of  the  four  parts  into  which  a  plane  is 
  divided  by  the  co["o]rdinate  axes.  The  upper  right-hand 
  part  is  the  first  quadrant;  the  upper  left-hand  part  the 
  second  the  lower  left-hand  part  the  third  and  the  lower 
  right-hand  part  the  fourth  quadrant. 
 
  4.  An  instrument  for  measuring  altitudes,  variously 
  constructed  and  mounted  for  different  specific  uses  in 
  astronomy,  surveying,  gunnery,  etc.,  consisting  commonly 
  of  a  graduated  arc  of  90[deg],  with  an  index  or  vernier, 
  and  either  plain  or  telescopic  sights,  and  usually  having 
  a  plumb  line  or  spirit  level  for  fixing  the  vertical  or 
  horizontal  direction. 
 
  {Gunner's  quadrant},  an  instrument  consisting  of  a  graduated 
  limb,  with  a  plumb  line  or  spirit  level,  and  an  arm  by 
  which  it  is  applied  to  a  cannon  or  mortar  in  adjusting  it 
  to  the  elevation  required  for  attaining  the  desired  range. 
 
 
  {Gunter's  quadrant}.  See  {Gunter's  quadrant},  in  the 
  Vocabulary. 
 
  {Hadley's  quadrant},  a  hand  instrument  used  chiefly  at  sea  to 
  measure  the  altitude  of  the  sun  or  other  celestial  body  in 
  ascertaining  the  vessel's  position.  It  consists  of  a  frame 
  in  the  form  of  an  octant  having  a  graduated  scale  upon  its 
  arc,  and  an  index  arm,  or  alidade  pivoted  at  its  apex. 
  Mirrors,  called  the  index  glass  and  the  horizon  glass,  are 
  fixed  one  upon  the  index  arm  and  the  other  upon  one  side 
  of  the  frame,  respectively.  When  the  instrument  is  held 
  upright,  the  index  arm  may  be  swung  so  that  the  index 
  glass  will  reflect  an  image  of  the  sun  upon  the  horizon 
  glass,  and  when  the  reflected  image  of  the  sun  coincides, 
  to  the  observer's  eye,  with  the  horizon  as  seen  directly 
  through  an  opening  at  the  side  of  the  horizon  glass,  the 
  index  shows  the  sun's  altitude  upon  the  scale;  --  more 
  properly,  but  less  commonly,  called  an  octant. 
 
  {Quadrant  of  altitude},  an  appendage  of  the  artificial  globe, 
  consisting  of  a  slip  of  brass  of  the  length  of  a  quadrant 
  of  one  of  the  great  circles  of  the  globe,  and  graduated. 
  It  may  be  fitted  to  the  meridian,  and  being  movable  round 
  to  all  points  of  the  horizon,  serves  as  a  scale  in 
  measuring  altitudes,  azimuths,  etc 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  quadrant 
  n  1:  a  quarter  of  the  circumference  of  a  circle  [syn:  {right 
  angle}] 
  2:  a  quarter  of  the  circumference  of  a  circle  [syn:  {quarter-circle}] 
  3:  any  of  the  four  areas  into  which  a  plane  is  divided  by  two 
  orthogonal  coordinate  axes 
  4:  the  area  enclosed  by  two  perpendicular  radii  of  a  circle 
  5:  an  instrument  for  measuring  altitude  of  heavenly  bodies




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