quadratic

Etymology

From French quadratique (1765), from Latin quadrātus + -ique (English -ic), form of quadrō (“I make square”), from quādrus (“square”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (“four”), whence also Latin quartus (“fourth”).

adj

1. square-shaped
2. (mathematics) of a polynomial, involving the second power (square) of a variable but no higher powers, as ax²+bx+c.
3. (mathematics) of an equation, of the form ax²+bx+c=0.
4. (mathematics) of a function, of the form y=ax²+bx+c.

noun

1. (mathematics) A quadratic polynomial, function or equation.