diagonal

¹di·ag·o·nal

adj \dī-ˈa-gə-n^əl, -ˈag-nəl\

Definition of DIAGONAL

1

a : joining two vertices of a rectilinear figure that are nonadjacent or two vertices of a polyhedral figure that are not in the same face b : passing through two nonadjacent edges of a polyhedron <a diagonal plane>

2

a : inclined obliquely from a reference line (as the vertical) <wood with a diagonal grain> b : having diagonal markings or parts <a diagonal weave>

Examples of DIAGONAL

1. The blanket is covered with diagonal stripes.
2. <the diagonal design ran up the wall all the way from the lower left to the upper right-hand corner>

Origin of DIAGONAL

Latin diagonalis, from Greek diagōnios from angle to angle, from dia- + gōnia angle; akin to Greek gony knee — more at knee

First Known Use: 1563

Related to DIAGONAL

Synonyms: cant, canted, graded, inclined, leaning, listing, oblique, pitched, raked, slant, slanted, slantwise, sloped, sloping, tilted, tilting

Near Antonyms: horizontal, level; plumb, up-and-down, vertical; parallel, perpendicular

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Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Rhymes with DIAGONAL

heptagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, pentagonal, tetragonal