sector
Americannoun
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Geometry. a plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle.
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a distinct part, especially of society or of a nation's economy.
the housing sector; the educational sector.
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a section or zone, as of a city.
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Military. a designated defense area, usually in a combat zone, within which a particular military unit operates and for which it is responsible.
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a mathematical instrument consisting of two flat rulers hinged together at one end and bearing various scales.
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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.
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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.
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Computers. a portion of a larger block of storage, as 1/128 of a track or disk.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a part or subdivision, esp of a society or an economy
the private sector
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geometry either portion of a circle included between two radii and an arc. Area: 1/ 2 r ²θ, where r is the radius and θ is the central angle subtended by the arc (in radians)
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a measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one end
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a part or subdivision of an area of military operations
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computing the smallest addressable portion of the track on a magnetic tape, disk, or drum store
Other Word Forms
- sectoral adjective
- subsector noun
Etymology
Origin of sector
First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin, from Latin: “cutter,” from sec(āre) “to cut, divide” + -tor -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The German sector trades at 38 times forecast earnings, up from 20 times at the start of last year and far above the 15 times of the German market as a whole.
But she argues: "What patients are paying for in the private sector is access to see the person they want and time for that consultation."
From BBC
"It's amazing because we're not only helping the American drilling companies, but also the Venezuelan private companies in the oil and gas sector to buy quality US-made drill rigs," he said.
From Barron's
The United States has opposed what Vice President JD Vance called "excessive regulation", warning it could stifle innovation in the key sector.
From Barron's
The interview with Druckenmiller was conducted on Jan. 30, just ahead of the February ascent of an AI fear trade that pummeled software and other sectors exposed to artificial-intelligence technology.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
