vector
/'vektə/
Definition
- Noun:
- (Mathematics) A quantity having both magnitude and direction: In mathematics and physics, a vector is represented as a directed line segment whose length represents its magnitude and whose orientation in space represents its direction. It is a fundamental concept used to model forces, velocities, and other physical quantities.
- (Biology/Medicine) An organism that transmits a pathogen: In biology and medicine, a vector is an agent, typically an insect or other animal, that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen (like a virus, bacterium, or parasite) from one host to another without being affected by the disease itself.
- (Genetics/Molecular Biology) A vehicle for transferring genetic material: In genetics, a vector is a DNA molecule (often a virus or plasmid) used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Mathematics):
- Force is a vector quantity, so you must specify both its strength and direction.
- The vector pointed from the origin to the coordinates (3, 4).
- Noun (Biology/Medicine):
- The Anopheles mosquito is the primary vector for malaria.
- Public health officials are working to control the tick vector of Lyme disease.
- Noun (Genetics):
- Scientists used a viral vector to deliver the therapeutic gene into the patient's cells.
- This plasmid is an effective cloning vector.
Advanced Usage
- "To vector" (Verb, specialized): In aviation and military contexts, to direct or guide an aircraft to a particular location using radar or other navigation systems.
- Air traffic control will vector the plane for its final approach to the runway.
- "Resolve a vector": In mathematics, to break down a vector into its component parts, usually along perpendicular axes (e.g., x and y components).
- To solve the physics problem, you first need to resolve the force vector into its horizontal and vertical components.
Variants and Related Words
- Vectorial (adj): Pertaining to or having the nature of a vector.
- Vectorial analysis is crucial in electromagnetic theory.
- Vectorization (n): The process of converting data or an image into a vector format (in computing) or the process of using a vector to deliver genetic material (in biology).
- The vectorization of the logo allows it to be scaled to any size without losing quality.
- Vector-borne (adj): Describing a disease transmitted by a vector.
- Malaria is a major vector-borne disease.
Synonyms
- Carrier (for biological/medical sense): An organism that harbors and can transmit a pathogen.
- Vehicle (for genetic sense): A means of conveying or delivering something.
- Directed quantity (for mathematical sense, though this is descriptive, not a common synonym).
Related Phrases
- Unit vector: A vector with a magnitude of one, used to indicate direction.
- The unit vector in the x-direction is often denoted as i.
- Zero vector: A vector with zero magnitude and no specific direction.
- If all forces are balanced, the net force is the zero vector.
- Vector space: A collection of objects (vectors) that can be added together and multiplied by scalars, following specific rules.
- Linear algebra is the study of vector spaces and linear transformations.
Related Idioms
- "To be a vector for change" (figurative): To be a means or agent that causes or facilitates significant change.
- Social media has become a powerful vector for political change.
Noun
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(genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA to a cell
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any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits a disease
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mosquitos are vectors of malaria and yellow fever
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fleas are vectors of the plague
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aphids are transmitters of plant diseases
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when medical scientists talk about vectors they are usually talking about insects
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a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction
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a variable quantity that can be resolved into components
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