Quadrature

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Quadrature \Quad"ra*ture\, n. [L. quadratura: cf. F. quadrature.
     See {Quadrate}, a.]
     1. (Math.) The act of squaring; the finding of a square
        having the same area as some given curvilinear figure; as,
        the quadrature of a circle; the operation of finding an
        expression for the area of a figure bounded wholly or in


        part by a curved line, as by a curve, two ordinates, and
        the axis of abscissas.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A quadrate; a square. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Integral Calculus) The integral used in obtaining the
        area bounded by a curve; hence, the definite integral of
        the product of any function of one variable into the
        differential of that variable.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Astron.) The position of one heavenly body in respect to
        another when distant from it 90[deg], or a quarter of a
        circle, as the moon when at an equal distance from the
        points of conjunction and opposition.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Quadrature of the moon} (Astron.), the position of the moon
        when one half of the disk is illuminated.
  
     {Quadrature of an orbit} (Astron.), a point in an orbit which
        is at either extremity of the latus rectum drawn through
        the empty focus of the orbit.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  quadrature
       n : the construction of a square having the same area as some
           other figure