noun
- plural of octant; one of eight equal parts into which something is divided
- plural of octant; navigational instruments used for measuring angles, especially the altitude of celestial bodies
Usage: mathematics; geometry
Usage: nautical; astronomy
Examples
- The sphere was divided into eight octants for the mathematical analysis.
- Each of the octants represented an equal portion of the three-dimensional space.
- The ship’s officers used octants to determine their position at sea.
- Modern GPS has largely replaced the use of octants in navigation.
- The coordinate system was organized into octants based on positive and negative values.
- Historical octants are now displayed in maritime museums.
- Students learned to identify the different octants in the coordinate plane.