perpendicular

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: perpendicular styleEnglish-GothicEnglish-Gothic architectureplumb linevertical

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a straight line at right angles to another line
  2. 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 architecture
  3. 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 line
  4. an extremely steep face

Adjective (3)

  1. intersecting at or forming right angles“the axes are perpendicular to each other”
  2. 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: vertical
  3. extremely steep“the great perpendicular face of the cliff”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, a. [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. [1913 Webster]

2.(Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc. [1913 Webster]

Perpendicular style (Arch.), 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. [1913 Webster]

Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, n.

1.A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction. [1913 Webster]

2.(Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side. [1913 Webster]

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