I. ˈkwōd.ə, -ōtə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin, from feminine of Latin quotus of what number, how many — more at quote
1. : a proportional part : share ; especially : the share or proportion assigned to each in a division or to each member of a body
the quota of troops required for an area
2. : the share or proportion received, granted, or necessary to a person as being one of a certain number entitled to a part ; specifically : the smallest number of votes in proportional political representation required for election and sometimes determined by dividing the total number of votes cast by one more than the number of seats to be filled and rounding off to the next higher full number
3. : the number of immigrants allowed to enter a country in a particular year and sometimes determined by the proportionate numbers of foreign-born groups in a given census
4. : a fixed number or percentage of minority group members who may be admitted into some activity or institution
gradual desegregation by quota
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to divide or fix by quotas
an institution with a quotaed admission policy
: assign a quota to