The (electric or magnetic) moment associated with a quadrupole, which is a function of the magnitudes of the constituent poles, the distance between them, and their configuration.
Origin
1920s.
Definition of quadrupole moment in US English:
quadrupole moment
noun
Physics
The (electric or magnetic) moment associated with a quadrupole, which is a function of the magnitudes of the constituent poles, the distance between them, and their configuration.