perpendicular
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (4)
- a straight line at right angles to another lineType of straight line
- a Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England; characterized by vertical lines and a four-centered (Tudor) arch and fan vaultingSynonyms: perpendicular styleEnglish-GothicEnglish-Gothic architectureType of Gothic, Gothic architectureKinds Tudor architecture
- a cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given pointSynonyms: plumb lineType of cordKinds plumb rule, lead lineParts plumb bob, plumb
- an extremely steep faceType of face
Adjective (3)
- intersecting at or forming right angles“the axes are perpendicular to each other”Opposite oblique, parallelSimilar orthogonal, right, normal
- at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line“a vertical camera angle”“the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab”“measure the perpendicular height”Synonyms: verticalOpposite inclined, horizontalSimilar upright, upended, plumbRelates to orientationSee also steep, straight
- so steep as to be nearly vertical“the great perpendicular face of the cliff”Opposite gradualSimilar steep
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. perpendicularis, perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle, Pension.
1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth.
2. Geometry At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc.
Perpendicular style Architecture, a name given to the latest variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed from the close of the 14th century to the early part of the 16th; — probably so called from the vertical style of its window mullions.
1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction.
2. Geometry A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54