Main Entry: hy·pot·e·nuse

Pronunciation: \hī-ˈpä-tə-ˌnüs, -ˌnyüz\

Variant(s): also hy·poth·e·nuse \-ˈpä-thə-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin hypotenusa, from Greek hypoteinousa, from feminine of hypoteinōn, present participle of hypoteinein to subtend, from hypo- + teinein to stretch — more at thin

Date: 1594

1 : the side of a right-angled triangle that is opposite the right angle
2 : the length of a hypotenuse

[hypotenuse illustration]