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Vectors

[vek-ter]

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noun

Mathematics.

a quantity possessing both magnitude and direction, represented by an arrow the direction of which indicates the direction of the quantity and the length of which is proportional to the magnitude. Compare scalar (def. 4).

such a quantity with the additional requirement that such quantities obey the parallelogram law of addition.

such a quantity with the additional requirement that such quantities are to transform in a particular way under changes of the coordinate system.

any generalization of the above quantities.

the direction or course followed by an airplane, missile, or the like.

Biology.

an insect or other organism that transmits a pathogenic fungus, virus, bacterium, etc.

any agent that acts as a carrier or transporter, as a virus or plasmid that conveys a genetically engineered DNA segment into a host cell.

Computers. an array of data ordered such that individual items can be located with a single index or subscript.

verb (used with object)

Aeronautics. to guide (an aircraft) in flight by issuing appropriate headings.

Aerospace. to change direction of (the thrust of a jet or rocket engine) in order to steer the craft.

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Vectors is always a great word to know.

So is slumgullion. Does it mean:

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

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Origin:
1695–1705; < Latin: one that conveys, equivalent to vec-, variant stem of vehere to carry + -tor -tor

Related forms

vec·to·ri·al

[vek-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] , adjective

vec·to·ri·al·ly, adverb

Link To Vectors

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

vector

(věk'tər) Pronunciation Key

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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Matching Quote

"Predictions usually deal with events—who will win an election, whether or not a country will go to war, the specification of a new invention; they center on decisions. Yet such predictions, while possible, cannot be formalized, i.e. made subject to rules. The prediction of events is inherently difficult. Events are the intersect of social vectors (interests, forces, pressures, and the like). While one can to some extent assess the strength of these vectors individually, one would need a "social physics" to predict the exact crosspoints where decisions and forces combine.... Forecasting is possible where there are regularities and recurrences of phenomena (these are rare), of where there are persisting trends whose direction, if not exact trajectory, can be plotted with statistical time-series or be formulated as historical tendencies. Necessarily, therefore, one deals with probabili ties and an array of possible projections. But the limitations of forecasting are also evident. The further one reaches ahead in time with a set of forecasts, the greater the margin for error, since the fan of the projections widens."

-Daniel Bell

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Vectors

vec·tor