perpendicular

¹per·pen·dic·u·lar

adjective \ˌpər-pən-ˈdi-kyə-lər\

Definition of PERPENDICULAR

1

a : standing at right angles to the plane of the horizon : exactly upright

b : being at right angles to a given line or plane

2

: extremely steep : precipitous

3

often capitalized : of or relating to a medieval English Gothic style of architecture in which vertical lines predominate

4

: relating to, uniting, or consisting of individuals of dissimilar type or on different levels

— per·pen·dic·u·lar·i·ty \-ˌdi-kyə-ˈla-rə-tē\ noun

— per·pen·dic·u·lar·ly \-ˈdi-kyə-lər-lē\ adverb

Examples of PERPENDICULAR

1. She lives on the street that is perpendicular to mine.
2. <river rafters staring awestruck at the canyon's nearly perpendicular cliffs>

Origin of PERPENDICULAR

Middle English perpendiculer, from Middle French, from Latin perpendicularis, from perpendiculum plumb line, from per- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PERPENDICULAR

Synonyms

erect, plumb, raised, standing, stand-up, upright, upstanding, vertical

Antonyms

flat, recumbent

Related Words

elevated, lifted, upended, upraised; semierect; freestanding, stand-alone

Near Antonyms

prostrate, supine; diagonal, hanging, sagging, slant, slanted, slanting, slanty

See Synonym Discussion at vertical

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

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

Rhymes with PERPENDICULAR

appendicular, in particular

²perpendicular

noun

Definition of PERPENDICULAR

: a line at right angles to a line or plane (as of the horizon)

First Known Use of PERPENDICULAR

1571

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

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

Rhymes with PERPENDICULAR

in particular