v-e-c-t-o-r
VECTOR A quantity having direction and magnitude; a carrier of disease; a course or compass direction. In word games, VECTOR scores 11 base points.
11
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Vector embodies the fundamental concept of directed force—a mathematical and scientific term that pervades fields from physics to epidemiology. At its core, a vector represents not just magnitude but direction, distinguishing it from simple scalar quantities. This dual nature makes vectors essential for describing everything from wind patterns to the spread of diseases.
In mathematics and physics, vectors are the arrows of the universe—quantities like velocity, force, and acceleration that point the way things move and change. Represented graphically as arrows, vectors combine length (magnitude) with direction to fully describe motion and forces. From calculating spacecraft trajectories to modeling electromagnetic fields, vectors provide the mathematical language for understanding our physical world.
In biology and medicine, vectors take on a different but equally crucial meaning: organisms that transmit pathogens between hosts. Mosquitoes vector malaria and dengue fever; ticks vector Lyme disease; fleas vectored the Black Death. Understanding disease vectors has saved millions of lives through targeted control measures. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that humans themselves can be vectors, spreading pathogens through social networks.
For Scrabble strategists, VECTOR offers solid scoring potential with its valuable V (4 points) and balanced letter distribution. The word's structure allows for various extensions: VECTORS, VECTORED, VECTORING, and VECTORIAL. Its combination of common and high-value letters makes it a reliable play when you need to balance scoring with playability. The -OR ending also creates hooking opportunities with words like VICTOR or SECTOR.
VECTOR derives from Latin "vector," meaning "carrier" or "one who carries," from the verb "vehere" (to carry). First used in astronomy in 1704 to describe planetary motion, the mathematical sense emerged in the 1840s with the development of vector calculus by mathematicians like Hamilton and Grassmann. The biological meaning of disease carrier appeared in the early 1900s as germ theory advanced. This etymological journey from "carrier" encompasses both abstract mathematical concepts and concrete biological agents, unified by the fundamental idea of transmission—whether of force, motion, or disease.
•The V in VECTOR is worth 4 points, while the C adds 3 more, creating strong scoring potential
•Vector graphics use mathematical equations rather than pixels, allowing infinite scaling without quality loss
•In aviation, "vector" is used as a verb meaning to direct an aircraft to a specific heading
"The wind vector showed both speed and direction, crucial for planning the flight path."
"Scientists identified the mosquito species that serves as the primary vector for this disease."
Explore other valuable 6-letter words for your game strategy:
Total base points: 11 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 (E, O) | Consonants: 4 (V, C, T, R)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like VECTOR