VECTOR

vector

(noun) (genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA to a cell

vector

(noun) a variable quantity that can be resolved into components

vector, transmitter

(noun) any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits a disease; “mosquitos are vectors of malaria and yellow fever”; “fleas are vectors of the plague”; “aphids are transmitters of plant diseases”; “when medical scientists talk about vectors they are usually talking about insects”

vector

(noun) a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

vector (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 $\backslash (\{\backslash mathbb\; Q\}[X]\backslash )$ are the single-variable polynomials with rational coefficients: one is $\backslash (\backslash textstyle\; x^\{42\}+\backslash frac1\{137\}x-1\backslash )$.

(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.

(computer graphics, attributive) A graphical representation using outlines; vector graphics.

Coordinate term: raster

(molecular biology) A DNA molecule used to carry genetic information from one organism into another.

Usage notes

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

Hypernyms

• tensor

Hyponyms

• axial vector

• Burgers vector

• change vector

• column vector

• Darboux vector

• displacement vector

• Euclidean vector

• gradient vector

• gyrovector

• Laplace–Runge–Lenz vector

• normal vector

• null vector

• position vector

• Poynting vector

• random vector

• row vector

• spin vector (spinor)

• tangent vector

• unit vector

• wave vector

Verb

vector (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.

(computing) To redirect to a vector, or code entry point.

Anagrams

• Covert, corvet, covert

Source: Wiktionary

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Vec"tor, n. Etym: [L., a bearer, carrier. fr. vehere, vectum, to carry.]

1. Same as Radius vector.

2. (Math.)

Definition: A directed quantity, as a straight line, a force, or a velocity. Vectors are said to be equal when their directions are the same their magnitudes equal. Cf. Scalar.

Note: In a triangle, either side is the vector sum of the other two sides taken in proper order; the process finding the vector sum of two or more vectors is vector addition (see under Addition).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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