Word.ws English Dictionary

vectorize

/ˈvɛktəɹaɪz/

vectorize verb: to convert an image into a vector graphics format.

Verb

vectorize (third-person singular simple present vectorizes, present participle vectorizing, simple past and past participle vectorized)

  1. (transitive) To convert an image into a vector graphics format.
    • The raster and vectorized images are displayed on a graphic monitor where the vector data is an active layer and the raster image is a background layer.1997, Sergey Ablameyko, An Introduction to Interpretation of Graphic Images, SPIE Press, →ISBN, page 147
  2. (transitive) To convert a program that operates on scalar values into the equivalent program operating on vectors, usually as an optimization step inside the compiler (automatic vectorization).
    • The principles on which the Cyber 200 FORTRAN compiler tries to detect which parts of a program can be vectorized are similar to those used in the Cray CFT compiler.1987, Ronald H. Perrott, Parallel Programming, Addison Wesley, →ISBN, page 157
  3. To lead selectively a drug to a target.
    • […] peculiarities of the CNT structure can be used to vectorize drugs and other chemicals.2018, Shyam Mohapatra et al., editors, Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 475

Forms of vectorize

third-person singular presentvectorizes
present participlevectorizing
past participlevectorized
pastvectorized
alternative formvectorise

Origin of vectorize

From vector + -ize.

Words formed from vectorize

Questions about vectorize

What does vectorize mean?
Vectorize means to convert an image into a vector graphics format.
What part of speech is vectorize?
Vectorize is a verb.
How do you pronounce vectorize?
Vectorize is pronounced /ˈvɛktəɹaɪz/.
What is the past tense of vectorize?
The past tense of vectorize is vectorized.

Words near vectorize in the dictionary

  1. vectorising
  2. vectorizability
  3. vectorizable
  4. vectorization
  5. vectorizations
  6. vectorize
  7. vectorized
  8. vectorizer
  9. vectorizers
  10. vectorizes
  11. vectorizing

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: vectorize (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-uk-vectorize.ogg.

Cite this entry: “vectorize.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/vectorize. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.