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| vec·tor [ véktər ] |
noun (plural vec·tors) |
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1. mathematics quantity with direction and magnitude: a quantity that has both direction and magnitude, e.g. force or velocity, usually represented by an arrow
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2. mathematics item in set of vectors: an element of a vector space
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3. aviation course of aircraft: the course taken by an aircraft or a missile
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4. biology disease-transmitting organism: an organism such as a mosquito or tick that transmits disease-causing microorganisms from an infected person or animal to another
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5. genetics gene transfer agent: an agent such as a plasmid or bacteriophage that is used in genetic modification to transfer a segment of foreign DNA into a bacterium or other cell. The foreign DNA is spliced into the vector's DNA, which contains the genes necessary for switching on replication and transcription of the foreign DNA in its new setting.
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6. comput computer array: in computing, an array of any length, but only one dimension
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transitive verb (past and past participle vec·tored, present participle vec·tor·ing, 3rd person present singular vec·tors) |
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| Definition: |
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1. direct aircraft by radio: to direct an aircraft or pilot by radio, often from the ground
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2. change thrust direction of aircraft engine: to change the direction of the thrust of an aircraft engine as a means of steering the aircraft
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| [Early 18th century. < Latin, "carrier" < vectus, past participle of vehere "carry"] |
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