quaternion

noun

qua·​ter·​ni·​on kwə-ˈtər-nē-ən 

kwä-

1

: a set of four parts, things, or persons

2

: any of a set of numbers that comprise a four-dimensional vector space with a basis consisting of the real number 1 and three imaginary units i, j, k, that follow special rules of multiplication, and that are used especially in computer graphics, robotics, and animation to rotate objects in three dimensions

Examples of quaternion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

John Graves, a lawyer friend of Hamilton’s, subsequently showed that pairs of quaternions make octonions: numbers that define coordinates in an abstract 8-D space. —Quanta Magazine, 20 July 2018

Like the quaternions, octonion multiplication is not commutative. —Quanta Magazine, 25 Oct. 2018

Proof surfaced in 1898 that the reals, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions are the only kinds of numbers that can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided. —Quanta Magazine, 20 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English quaternyoun, from Late Latin quaternion-, quaternio, from Latin quaterni four each, from quater four times; akin to Latin quattuor four — more at four

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1