plural vectors
1
a
: a quantity that has magnitude and direction and that is commonly represented by a directed line segment whose length represents the magnitude and whose orientation in space represents the direction
broadly
: an element of a vector space
b
: a course or compass direction especially of an airplane
2
a
: an organism (such as an insect) that transmits a pathogen from one organism or source to another
The insect vector in malaria is the anopheline mosquito, a genus comprising many species around the world.—
Frank Graham, Jr.
compare carrier sense 5a, reservoir sense 3
Frank Graham, Jr.3
: an agent (such as a plasmid or virus) that contains or carries modified genetic material (such as recombinant DNA) and can be used to introduce exogenous genes into the genome of an organism
vectored; vectoring
ˈvek-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to guide (something or someone, such as an airplane, its pilot, or a missile) in flight by means of a radioed vector
2
: to change the direction of (the thrust of a jet engine) for steering
Examples of vector in a Sentence
Noun
a mosquito that is the principal vector of yellow fever
Recent Examples on the Web
John Ottman, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Along with boosting the careers of its key cast, the show has also been a powerful vector of soft power for France, partly thanks to its use of iconic Parisian backdrops and landmarks as well as product placement.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
Rohit Jaggi, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2022
That ability to vector torque towards traction should endow the Hummer EV with an unprecedented ability to keep moving forward through even the gnarliest of slippery conditions.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 21 Oct. 2020
See all Example Sentences for vector 
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Noun
As data transits this complex data fabric, datasets often undergo multimodal transformations—possibly from files and tables in one format to index vectors in another.
—John Ottman, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Along with boosting the careers of its key cast, the show has also been a powerful vector of soft power for France, partly thanks to its use of iconic Parisian backdrops and landmarks as well as product placement.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
The fans also have individual flaps to vector the thrust.
—Rohit Jaggi, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2022
That ability to vector torque towards traction should endow the Hummer EV with an unprecedented ability to keep moving forward through even the gnarliest of slippery conditions.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 21 Oct. 2020
See all Example Sentences for vector
Dictionary Entries Near vector
Cite this Entry
“Vector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vector. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vector
1 of 2 noun
vec·tor
ˈvek-tər
1
: a quantity that has magnitude and direction and that is usually represented by part of a straight line with the given direction and with a length representing the magnitude
2
: an organism (as an insect) that transmits a pathogen from one organism or source to another
fleas are vectors of plague
compare carrier sense 1a, reservoir sense 2
3
: an agent (as a plasmid or virus) that contains or carries modified genetic material (as recombinant DNA) and can be used to introduce exogenous genes into the genome of an organism
vector
2 of 2 transitive verb
vectored; vectoring
-t(ə-)riŋ
: to transmit (a pathogen or disease) from one organism to another : act as a vector for
a disease vectored by flies
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