Meaning & use
quad
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Meanings
nouncountableinformal
An open square area surrounded by buildings, especially at a school or college.
Grammar: Short for quadrangle; often 'in the quad'.
Patterns
- in the quad
- across the quad
Students gather on the quad between classes.
We played frisbee in the quad after lunch.
The library overlooks the main quad.
nounusually pluralinformal
The large muscle group at the front of the thigh, shortened from quadriceps.
Grammar: Usually quads: she pulled her quads while running.
Patterns
- strain a quad
- work your quads
Squats work the quads hard.
He felt a burn in his quads halfway up the hill.
I stretch my quads after every run.
nouncountableinformal
One of four babies born to the same mother at one birth.
Grammar: Short for quadruplet; used in casual talk.
Patterns
- have quads
Their quads were born two months early.
The couple were stunned to learn they were expecting quads.
The quads all share a birthday party each year.
Word forms
| plural | quads |
|---|
Common combinations
- college quad
- The college quad was full of picnickers.
- stretch the quads
- Stretch the quads before sprinting.
- cross the quad
- She crossed the quad to reach class.
- strong quads
- Cyclists need strong quads.
- quad bike
- The farmer rode a quad bike across the field.
Synonyms and how they differ
- quadrangle
- Quadrangle is the full, formal word for a courtyard, while quad is shorter and casual.
- courtyard
- A courtyard can be any enclosed yard, not only at a school.
- quadriceps
- Quadriceps is the medical term for the thigh muscle group; quad is the gym nickname.
- quadruplet
- Quadruplet is the formal word for one of four babies from a single birth.
Word family
- quadrangle noun
- a four-sided courtyard
- quadruple verb
- to multiply by four
- quadruplet noun
- one of four children born together
- quadrant noun
- one quarter of a circle or area
Commonly confused: quad or quadrant?
quad vs quadrant
A quadrant is one quarter of something, such as a circle; a quad is a courtyard or muscle.
Practice
After a long hike, Sam's ______ were sore from climbing steep hills.
Choose one answer.
The quads are the front thigh muscles, used heavily when climbing. Triceps and biceps are in the arm.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “quad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.