- (
geometry )几何 a quarter of a circle or of its circumference (= the distance around it) 四分之一圆(或圆周);象限 an instrument for measuring angles, especially to check your position at sea or to look at stars 象限仪,四分仪(常用于测量海上方位或观看星辰)
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the astronomical instrument): from Latin quadrans, quadrant- ‘quarter’, from quattuor ‘four’.