diagonal

1 of 2

adjective

di·​ag·​o·​nal dī-ˈa-gə-nᵊl How to pronounce diagonal (audio)
-ˈag-nəl
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 (such as the vertical)
wood with a diagonal grain
b
: having diagonal markings or parts
a diagonal weave

diagonal

2 of 2

noun

1
: a diagonal straight line or plane
2
a(1)
: a diagonal direction
(2)
: a diagonal row, arrangement, or pattern
b
: something oriented in diagonal position
3
Phrases
on the diagonal
: in an oblique direction : diagonally

Examples of diagonal in a Sentence

Adjective The blanket is covered with diagonal stripes. the diagonal design ran up the wall all the way from the lower left to the upper right-hand corner Noun a design with strong diagonals the ramp was set at a low diagonal to make it easier for physically challenged patrons
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The final thing Columbia gets right is their diagonal cut, according to Huse. Andrew Barrett Schrader, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Score the puff pastry lightly in a diagonal pattern with a sharp knife or box cutter, then brush it with the beaten egg. The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 After Charlotte partially cleared the initial danger from a corner kick, Pedro Vite reached the ball and sent a diagonal service toward the left corner of the 6-yard box. Observer Wire Reports, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2024 The dazzling dress featured a diagonal pattern of white and silver circles that transitioned into darker, petal-like shapes at the bottom. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 According to the city designers who created the Cincinnati icon sign, given the available options for the LED's at that time, there was no way to do a diagonal line. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 9 Jan. 2024 The diameter of the sphere is equal to the diagonal of the cube the piece would fill. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2023 High-Waist Wide-Leg Cargo Jeans Cargo pockets and diagonal seams infuse these light-rinse jeans with long lines and on-trend flair. Paula Lee, Glamour, 7 Nov. 2023 The Morning Show star also styled her buzzy cut with a deep, diagonal part. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Noun
For instance, a dagger-like diagonal and the solitary wing of a mythical bird were reserved for royals. Hannah Beech, New York Times, 30 June 2023 Cannage is the distinctive quilting made up of geometrical pattern of squares and diagonals that appears on many Dior products, most notably its bags. Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023 Then there’s the fact that the driver was from out of town, and Philly’s grid of one-way streets, half-blocks, and diagonals can be tricky even for the experienced. Tom Avril, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2023 At the David Zwirner gallery on the Upper East Side, two rooms have been outfitted with lights—cool white verticals in one, iris-stinging green diagonals in the other—to re-create two Flavin exhibitions from 1967, both held at Kornblee Gallery. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023 The expansive volume under the tent, the spherical ring, the arcs of leaping gymnasts, the diagonals of tightrope were like the elements in the solar system, orbiting around one another, all bound by gravity. Rachel Corbett, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2020 Pat dry, cut on the diagonal into 2-inch (5 cm) lengths and set aside. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Apr. 2020 Diagonal: Long boards installed on a diagonal from the room's walls. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 13 Mar. 2020 This can be done by stretching a string across one diagonal and then the other. James Dulley, Dallas News, 12 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diagonal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin diagonalis, from Greek diagōnios from angle to angle, from dia- + gōnia angle; akin to Greek gony knee — more at knee entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagonal was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near diagonal

Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagonal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diagonal

1 of 2 adjective
di·​ag·​o·​nal dī-ˈag-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce diagonal (audio)
-ˈag-nəl
1
: joining two opposite corners of a four-sided figure
2
: running in a slanting direction
diagonally
-ən-ᵊl-ē
-nə-lē
adverb

diagonal

2 of 2 noun
1
: a diagonal line or direction
2
: a diagonal row, arrangement, or pattern
3

More from Merriam-Webster on diagonal

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