sector

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsɛktə/

noun

  • 1an area or portion that is distinct from others: operations in the southern sector of the North Sea
  • a distinct part or branch of a nation’s economy or society or of a sphere of activity such as education: the government aimed to reassure the industrial and commercial sector
  • Military a subdivision of an area for military operations.
  • Computing a subdivision of a track on a magnetic disk.
  • 2the plane figure enclosed by two radii of a circle or ellipse and the arc between them.
  • 3a mathematical instrument consisting of two arms hinged at one end and marked with sines, tangents, etc. for making diagrams.

Derivatives

sectoral

adjective

Origin:

late 16th century (in sector (sense 2), sector (sense 3)): from late Latin, a technical use of Latin sector 'cutter', from sect- 'cut off', from the verb secare