vector
    n 1: a variable quantity that can be resolved into components
    2: a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose
       orientation in space is direction
    3: any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries
       and transmits a disease; "mosquitos are vectors of malaria
       and yellow fever"; "fleas are vectors of the plague"; "aphids
       are transmitters of plant diseases"; "when medical scientists
       talk about vectors they are usually talking about insects"
       [syn: vector, transmitter]
    4: (genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA
       to a cell

Vector \Vec"tor\, n. [L., a bearer, carrier. fr. vehere, vectum,
   to carry.]
   1. Same as Radius vector.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Math.) A directed quantity, as a straight line, a force,
      or a velocity. Vectors are said to be equal when their
      directions are the same and their magnitudes equal. Cf.
      Scalar.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: In a triangle, either side is the vector sum of the
         other two sides taken in proper order; the process
         finding the vector sum of two or more vectors is vector
         addition (see under Addition).
         [1913 Webster]

vector

   1.  A member of a vector space.

   2.  A line or movement defined by its end points, or
   by the current position and one other point.  See vector
   graphics.

   3.  A memory location containing the address
   of some code, often some kind of exception handler or other
   operating system service.  By changing the vector to point
   to a different piece of code it is possible to modify the
   behaviour of the operating system.

   Compare hook.

   4.  A one-dimensional array.

   (1996-09-30)