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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Quadrature \Quad"ra*ture\, n. [L. quadratura: cf. F. quadrature.
See {Quadrate}, a.]
1. (Math.) The act of squaring; the finding of a square
having the same area as some given curvilinear figure; as,
the quadrature of a circle; the operation of finding an
expression for the area of a figure bounded wholly or in
part by a curved line, as by a curve, two ordinates, and
the axis of abscissas.
[1913 Webster]

2. A quadrate; a square. --Milton.
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3. (Integral Calculus) The integral used in obtaining the
area bounded by a curve; hence, the definite integral of
the product of any function of one variable into the
differential of that variable.
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4. (Astron.) The position of one heavenly body in respect to
another when distant from it 90[deg], or a quarter of a
circle, as the moon when at an equal distance from the
points of conjunction and opposition.
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{Quadrature of the moon} (Astron.), the position of the moon
when one half of the disk is illuminated.

{Quadrature of an orbit} (Astron.), a point in an orbit which
is at either extremity of the latus rectum drawn through
the empty focus of the orbit.
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