Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Browse Nearby Entries
sector
Sponsored Links Sector
Find more sources/options for Sector
webcrawler.com/sector
8 dictionary results for: sector
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
sec·tor       [sek-ter] Pronunciation Key
–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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Sponsored Links Sector
Find more sources/options for Sector
webcrawler.com/sector
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
sec·tor       (sěk'tər, -tôr')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. 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.
  3. A part or division, as of a city or a national economy: the manufacturing sector; the private sector.
  4. 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.
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
sector

noun
1. a plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle 
2. a social group that forms part of the society or the economy; "the public sector" 
3. a particular aspect of life or activity; "he was helpless in an important sector of his life" 
4. the minimum track length that can be assigned to store information; unless otherwise specified a sector of data consists of 512 bytes 
5. a portion of a military position 
6. measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one end 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
sector       (sěk'tər)  Pronunciation Key 
The part of a circle bounded by two radii and the arc between them.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Related Links

Industry Handbook
Do Focused Funds Provide a Better Outlook?
You Can't Judge an Index Fund by Its Cover
Sector Rotation: The Essentials
A Guide To Conference Board Indicators

See also: Diversification, Exchange Traded Fund - ETF, Industry, Market, Mutual Fund, Sector Fund, Sector Rotation

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

sector

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

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Share This:Share This: digg.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.google.com
Sponsored Links Sector
Find more sources/options for Sector
webcrawler.com/sector