sector
UK[ˈsɛktə]US[ˈsɛktər]
n
a distinct part or branch of a nation's economy or society or of a sphere of activity such as education.
n
a part of an area, especially one forming a distinct section of a city.
n
the plane figure enclosed by two radii of a circle or ellipse and the arc between them.
Morpheme Breakdown
sect
or
sect
cut
or
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'sector' originates from the Latin verb secare, meaning 'to cut'. This root, which also gives us words like 'section', 'segment', and 'dissect', is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root sek-, meaning 'to cut'. In its original geometric sense, a sector was literally a part 'cut out' from a circle by two radii. This core idea of a distinct, partitioned-off part was then logically extended to describe distinct divisions within economic, social, or geographic areas, moving from a literal to a figurative application of the concept of cutting.
Analysis
Structure: sect (cut) + or (noun suffix)
'sect' is from Latin sect-, the past participle stem of secare meaning 'to cut'. 'or' is a Latin-derived agent noun suffix indicating 'a person or thing that does something'.
Examples
The technology sector is a major driver of economic growth.
The old industrial sector of the city is undergoing redevelopment.
To find the area of a sector, you need to know the radius and the angle.