1. (Abbr. qt. or q.)
   1. A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to ¹/₄ gallon or 32 ounces (0.946 liter).
   2. A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in dry measure, equal to ¹/₈ peck or 2 pints (1.101 liters).
   3. A unit of volume or capacity in the British Imperial System, used in liquid and dry measure, equal to 1.201 U.S. liquid quarts or 1.032 U.S. dry quarts (1.136 liters).
2. 1. A container having a capacity of one quart.
   2. The contents of such a container.

[Middle English, from Old French quarte, from Latin quārta, feminine of quārtus, fourth.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.