quad

quad — noun

1. a baby born from a pregnancy that produces four children at once.

1.nounB1
Definition

a baby born from a pregnancy that produces four children at once.

Example

Local news reporters did a story about the quads born at the city hospital.

collocation: born at the same time / quads

Mayumi's aunt gave birth to quads last spring, and the whole family shares childcare.

Common collocations
  • quads + born
  • give birth to quads
  • expecting quads
  • raise quads
Synonyms
  • quadruplet

    the full, more formal term; 'quad' is the shortened form

Grammar Patterns

quad + verb (plural agreement common)

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form quads. The full form quadruplet is more formal.

Common Mistakes

They had a quad last night.
She gave birth to quads last night.
quad refers to one member of a set of four babies, not to the birth event itself.

2. a square open area with buildings around it, typically found at a school or univ

2.nounB2
Definition

a square open area with buildings around it, typically found at a school or university.

Example

Students gathered on the quad to study and enjoy the warm afternoon sun.

preposition: on the quad

The old college quad has a fountain in the middle and benches around it.

Common collocations
  • on the quad
  • across the quad
  • main quad
  • college quad
Synonyms
  • courtyard

    a more general term for any open area surrounded by walls or buildings

  • quadrangle

    the full, more formal word; rarely used in casual speech

Grammar Patterns

the + quad

on the + quad

across the + quad

Usage Note

Common in British and American university contexts. The full form quadrangle is very formal and rarely used in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I met her in the quad of the shopping mall.
I met her in the quad of the university.
quad in this sense refers specifically to a school or college courtyard, not any open area.

3. the big muscle covering the thigh area, responsible for straightening the knee j

3.nounB2
Definition

the big muscle covering the thigh area, responsible for straightening the knee joint.

Example

After running up the stairs, Élise could feel her quads burning.

collocation: quads + burn (sensation after exercise)

Strong quads help cyclists push the pedals with more power on steep hills.

Common collocations
  • quads burn / ache / feel tight
  • strong quads
  • stretch your quads
  • left / right quad
  • build quads
Synonyms
  • quadriceps

    the full formal anatomical term

  • thigh muscle

    a more general term; the quad is just one of several thigh muscles

Grammar Patterns

quads + verb

quads + ache / burn / feel tight

Usage Note

The short form quads is far more common in casual and sports contexts than the full term quadriceps. The singular a quad refers to one of the four muscles in the group, or informally to the whole muscle group on one leg.

Common Mistakes

I hurt my quadricep.
I hurt my quad.' or 'I hurt my quadriceps.
quadriceps is already a plural form; 'quadricep' as a singular back-formation is considered non-standard.

quad — verb

quad — adjective

Word family

  • quadruple
    adjectiveB2
  • quadruple
    verbB2
  • quadruplet
    nounB1
  • quadrangle
    nounC1
  • quadriceps
    nounB2
  • quadraphonic
    adjectiveC1
  • quadrilateral
    nounC1
  • quadrilateral
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Quad, courtyard, plaza, and square all describe open outdoor areas, but they differ in setting and typical features. A quad (short for quadrangle) is specifically a rectangular or square area enclosed by buildings at a school, college, or university — it has an academic feel and is often grassy. A courtyard is a more general term for any paved or planted area enclosed by walls or buildings, found in homes, palaces, or offices. Plaza refers to a public open space in a city, often paved and surrounded by shops or government buildings, and is commonly used in Spanish-speaking and US contexts. A square is a broad, open public area in a town or city, sometimes with a monument or fountain. For example: 'Students relaxed on the grass of the university quad between classes.' vs. 'Tourists gathered in the main square to watch the street performers.'

quad ↗courtyard ↗plaza ↗square

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • on the quad
  • across the quad

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Quad is a shortening of several words that go back to Latin 'quattuor', meaning 'four'. In the 1800s, British universities shortened 'quadrangle' (a four-sided courtyard) to 'quad'. Around the same time, 'quadruplet' (a set of four babies) was shortened to 'quad'. In the mid-1900s, bodybuilders and athletes shortened 'quadriceps' (a thigh muscle with four heads) to 'quads'. The adjective uses followed the same pattern of clipping 'quadruple' and 'quadraphonic'.