quadrant

UK: ˈkwɒdrənt | US: ˈkwɑːdrənt

Definition
  1. n. 1. One of four equal parts of a circle or other shape, divided by two perpendicular lines.

  2. n. 2. A device or part of an instrument used for measuring angles, especially in astronomy or navigation.

  3. n. 3. A specific sector or region in a larger system (e.g., urban planning or biology).

Structure
quadr <four>ant <noun suffix>quadr <four>ant <noun suffix>
Etymology

The word quadrant traces back to Latin quadrans, meaning "a fourth part." It originally described a quarter-circle or a 90-degree segment, reflecting its geometric use. Over time, it expanded to tools (like the navigational quadrant) that measure such angles. The morpheme quadr- persists in related terms (e.g., quadrilateral, quadruple), consistently tied to the concept of "four."

Examples
  1. The city’s cultural district occupies the northeast quadrant of the map.

  2. Sailors once relied on a quadrant to determine their latitude at sea.

  3. Each quadrant of the circle represents a 90-degree angle.

  4. The biologist studied cell division in the lower-left quadrant of the slide.

  5. Urban planners divided the project into four quadrants for phased development.