vector

vec·tor

noun

The definition of a vector is a quantity that has both size and direction, or an insect that is a carrier of a disease-producing organism.

An example of a vector is wind speed because it is measured with two factors - speed and direction.
An example of a vector is a disease carrying bug.

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vector

Biol. an animal, esp. an insect, that transmits a disease-producing organism from a host to an uninfected animal or plant
Math.
1. a mathematical expression denoting a combination of magnitude and direction, as velocity
2. a directed line segment representing such an expression
3. an ordered set of real numbers, each denoting a distance on a coordinate axis
the particular course followed or to be followed, as by an aircraft; compass heading

Origin of vector

Modern Latin from L, bearer, carrier from vectus, past participle of vehere, to carry: see way

to guide (a pilot, aircraft, missile, etc.) by means of a vector (sense ) sent by radio

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vector

noun

Mathematics
a. A quantity, such as velocity, completely specified by a magnitude and a direction.
b. A one-dimensional array.
c. An element of a vector space.
An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host to another.
A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.
A force or influence.
A course or direction, as of an airplane.

transitive verb

vec·tored, vec·tor·ing, vec·tors

To guide (a pilot or aircraft, for example) by means of radio communication according to vectors.

Origin of vector

Latin carrier from vehere vect- to carry ; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

vec·to′ri·al
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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A quantity, such as the velocity of an object or the force acting on an object, that has both magnitude and direction.
Compare scalar
An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that spreads pathogens from one host to another.
A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.

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Noun

(plural vectors)

(mathematics) A directed quantity, one with both magnitude and direction; the signed difference between two points.
(mathematics) An ordered tuple representing a directed quantity or the signed difference between two points.
(mathematics) Any member of a (generalized) vector space.
The vectors in are the single-variable polynomials with rational coefficients: one is .
(aviation) A chosen course or direction for motion, as of an aircraft.
(epidemiology) A carrier of a disease-causing agent.
(sociology) A person or entity that passes along an urban legend or other meme.
(psychology) A recurring psychosocial issue that stimulates growth and development in the personality.
The way in which the eyes are drawn across the visual text. The trail that a book cover can encourage the eyes to follow from certain objects to others.
(computing, operating systems) A memory address containing the address of a code entry point, usually one which is part of a table and often one that is dereferenced and jumped to during the execution of an interrupt.
(programming) A one-dimensional array.

Usage notes

(programming): The term vector is used loosely when the indices are not (either positive or non-negative) integers.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present vectors, present participle vectoring, simple past and past participle vectored)

To set (particularly an aircraft) on a course toward a selected point.

Anagrams

covert

Origin

From Latin vector (“carrier"), from vehÅ (“I carry, I bear").

The "person or entity that passes along an urban legend or other meme" sense derives from the disease sense.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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vector - Computer Definition

A mathematical expression of a quantity, such as velocity, that possesses both magnitude (i.e., amplitude) and direction, and that may or may not be a function of time. See also amplitude.
A directed line segment of such an expression. See also HCV and VQC.
A set of numbers in an order that has meaning when each position is mapped to a corresponding dimension.
In video, a frequency or series of frequencies associated with a video signal. See also vector quantization.

Webster's New World Telecom Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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(1) In computer graphics, a line designated by its end points (X-Y or X-Y-Z coordinates). When a circle is drawn, it is made up of many small vectors. See vector graphics and graphics.

(2) In matrix algebra, a one-row or one-column matrix.

(3) An airplane's travel path.

(4) The term is used generically for "pathway" or "avenue" or even an influence of some type. For example, "x, y and z provide multiple threat vectors for malware intrusion" means there are multiple ways for intrusion to occur.

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.

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vector - Medical Definition

n.

An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host to another.
A bacteriophage, plasmid, or other agent that transfers genetic material from one cell to another.

Related Forms:

vec·to′ri·al (vĕk-tôr′ē-əl)
adj.

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vector

vector

vector

vector - Computer Definition

vector - Medical Definition

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vector

vector

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vector - Computer Definition

vector - Medical Definition

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