sector definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

sec⋅tor

[sek-ter]

–noun

1.	Geometry. a plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle.

2.	a mathematical instrument consisting of two flat rulers hinged together at one end and bearing various scales.

3.	Machinery. a device used in connection with an index plate, consisting of two arms rotating about the center of the plate and set to indicate the angle through which the work is indexed.

4.	Military. a designated defense area, usually in a combat zone, within which a particular military unit operates and for which it is responsible.

5.	Astronomy. an instrument shaped like a sector of a circle, having a variable central angle and sights along the two straight sides, for measuring the angular distance between two celestial bodies.

6.	a distinct part, esp. of society or of a nation's economy: the housing sector; the educational sector.

7.	a section or zone, as of a city.

8.	Computers. a portion of a larger block of storage, as ¹/₁₂₈ of a track or disk.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to divide into sectors.

Origin:
1560–70; < LL: sector, L: cutter, equiv. to of sec(āre) to cut + -tor -tor

Related forms:

sec⋅tor⋅al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To sector

sec·tor (sěk'tər, -tôr')

Mathematics
1. The portion of a circle bounded by two radii and the included arc.
2. A measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged together at one end.
3. A division of a defensive position for which one military unit is responsible.
4. A division of an offensive military position.
1. A division of a defensive position for which one military unit is responsible.
2. A division of an offensive military position.
A part or division, as of a city or a national economy: the manufacturing sector; the private sector.
Computer Science A portion of a magnetic storage device making up the smallest addressable unit of information.

tr.v. sec·tored, sec·tor·ing, sec·tors
To divide (something) into sectors.

[Late Latin, from Latin, cutter, from sectus, past participle of secāre, to cut; see sek- in Indo-European roots.]
sec·to'ri·al (-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sector

Sec"tor\, n. [L., properly, a cutter, fr. secare, sectum, to cut: cf. F. secteur. See Section.]

1. (Geom.) A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc.

2. A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines, tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and all on lines radiating from the common center of motion. The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.

3. An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a small portion only of a circle, used for measuring differences of declination too great for the compass of a micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances of stars, it is called a zenith sector.

Dip sector, an instrument used for measuring the dip of the horizon.

Sector of a sphere, or Spherical sector, the solid generated by the revolution of the sector of a circle about one of its radii, or, more rarely, about any straight line drawn in the plane of the sector through its vertex.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : sector

Spanish: sector,

German: der Sektor,

Japanese: 扇形

More Translations »

sector

1570, "section of a circle between two radii," from L.L. sector "section of a circle," from L. sector "a cutter," from sectus, pp. of secare "to cut" (see section). Translated Gk. tomeus in L. editions of Archimedes. Meaning "area, division" appeared 1920, generalized from military sense (1916) of "part of a front," based on a circle centered on a headquarters.

Sector

1. An area of the economy where businesses share the same or related product or service.

2. A group of securities in the same industry or market.

Investopedia Commentary

1. Dividing an economy into different like pieces allows for more in-depth analysis of the economy as a whole. Any economy can be divided into sectors, such as the economy of a particular city, or the global economy. The oil and gas sector is an example of an economic sector.

2. It is common for analysts to specialize in certain sectors. For example, at a large research firm an analyst may cover only pharmaceutical companies. Investment funds often specialize in a particular economic sector, a practice known as sector investing.

sector

A group of securities (such as airline stocks) that share certain common characteristics. Stocks that are particularly interest-sensitive are considered a sector.

sector (sěk'tər) Pronunciation Key
The part of a circle bounded by two radii and the arc between them.

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