quadrupole

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noun

A distribution of either electric charge or magnetization equivalent to two dipoles that point in opposite directions.

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Meanings

nounquadrupole (plural quadrupoles)

plural quadrupoles

  1. natural sciencesA distribution of either electric charge or magnetization equivalent to two dipoles that point in opposite directions.

    Consider a linear quadrupole consisting of a point charge of strength 2q at the origin and point charges of strength —q at (0, 0, a) and (0, 0, —a).

    1975, David M. Cook, The Theory of the Electromagnetic Field, page 123
  2. natural sciencesA magnet with two north poles and two south poles, used to focus a beam of particles.

Origin

From quadru- + pole.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian четириполюсник
  • четириполюсник (četiripoljusnik)a distribution of either electric charge or magnetization equivalent to two dipoles that point in opposite directions
Russian квадрупо́ль
  • квадрупо́ль (kvadrupólʹ)a distribution of either electric charge or magnetization equivalent to two dipoles that point in opposite directions
Cite this entry
APA

quadrupole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quadrupole

MLA

“quadrupole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quadrupole. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “quadrupole,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quadrupole.

Source: quadrupole on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.