n. [ L. octans, -antis. fr. octo eight. See Octave. ] 1. (Geom.) The eighth part of a circle; an arc of 45 degrees. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron. & Astrol.) The position or aspect of a heavenly body, as the moon or a planet, when half way between conjunction, or opposition, and quadrature, or distant from another body 45 degrees. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An instrument for measuring angles (generally called a quadrant), having an arc which measures up to 9O°, but being itself the eighth part of a circle. Cf. Sextant. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math. & Crystallog.) One of the eight parts into which a space is divided by three coordinate planes. [ 1913 Webster ]