octant

(äktənt)

noun

  1. an eighth of a circle; 45° angle or arc
  2. an instrument like the sextant, for measuring angles
  3. Astron. the position of one celestial body when it is 45° distant from another
  4. Math. any of the eight parts into which a space is divided by three planes intersecting at a single point and at right angles to one another

Origin: LL octans, eighth part < L octo, eight

See octant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. One eighth of a circle.
  2. a. A 45° arc.
    b. The area enclosed by two radii at a 45° angle and the intersected arc.
  3. An instrument based on the principle of the sextant but employing only a 45° angle, used as an aid in navigation.
  4. Astronomy The position of a celestial body when it is separated from another by a 45° angle.
  5. One of eight parts into which three-dimensional space is divided by three usually perpendicular coordinate planes.

Origin:

Origin: Latin octāns, octant-

Origin: , from octō, eight; see oktō(u) in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • oc·tanˈtal (ŏk-tănˈtəl) adjective

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