Quadrate

kwod′rāt, adj. squared: having four equal sides and four right angles: divisible into four equal parts: ( fig. ) balanced: exact: suited.— n. a square or quadrate figure: the quadrate bone, that between the lower jaw and the cranium in birds and reptiles, suspending the lower jaw.— v.i. to square or agree with: to correspond.— adj. Quadrat′ic , pertaining to, containing, or denoting a square.— n. ( alg. ) an equation in which the highest power of the unknown quantity is the second: an old instrument for measuring latitudes: ( pl. ) that branch of algebra which treats of quadratic equations.— adj. Quadrat if′erous , having a distinct quadrate bone.— ns. Quadrā′trix , a curve by which may be found straight lines equal to the circumference of circles or other curves; Quad′rāture , a squaring: ( geom. ) the finding, exactly or approximately, of a square that shall be equal to a given figure of some other shape: the position of a heavenly body when 90° distant from another: ( Milt. ) a square space; Quadrā′tus , the quadratus femoris , or square muscle of the femur in man, the quadratus lumborum , that of the loins, the depre or labii inferior is , that of the chin, which draws down the upper lip.— Quadrature of the circle , the problem of squaring the circle, insoluble both by the arithmetical and the geometrical method.— Method of quadratures , the name applied to any arithmetical method of determining the area of a curve. [O. Fr. quadrat —L. quadratus , pa.p. of quadrāre , to square— quatuor , four.]