geometry

noun

ge·​om·​e·​try jē-ˈä-mə-trē 

plural geometries

1

a

: a branch of mathematics that deals with the measurement, properties, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids

broadly : the study of properties of given elements that remain invariant under specified transformations

b

: a particular type or system of geometry

Euclidean geometry

2

a

: configuration

… the [bicycle] frame's geometry can be adjusted via a two-position lower shock mount which slackens the angles by another half a degree.

—Liam Mercer

b

: surface shape

the geometry of the landscape

The shape of the earbud is tailored to the geometry of your ear.

—Noah Robischon

The Ken Onion also allows you to choose the type of blade geometry for whatever implement you're sharpening …

—Ariel Kanter

Every object naturally resonates when hit by electromagnetic waves of particular frequencies, which are determined by the object's geometry and material properties.

—Ada Poon

3

: an arrangement of objects or parts that suggests geometric figures

the geometry of neoclassical architecture

Synonyms

• cast
• configuration
• conformation
• fashion
• figure
• form
• shape

Examples of geometry in a Sentence

the geometry of Sydney's famed opera house is suggestive of some modernistic sailing ship

Recent Examples on the Web

All the talk on social media is that the jerseys will feature more triangles than geometry class. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2024

However, this inevitably ignores potentially interesting spacetimes with more complex geometries. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024

That’s enabled by some spectacular mathematics around gear-wheel geometries: For the wheels involved, the team whittled down 22 trillion combinations for the proportions, number, and shape of the teeth to find a solution (using a dedicated computer simulation). —Jeremy White, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024

Falconer’s conjecture posits a relationship between the geometry of the set of points — characterized by a number called the fractal dimension — and the size of the distance set, characterized by a number called the measure. —Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

The actual number can vary due to factors such as the Earth's orbital geometry and atmospheric conditions, according to the National Weather Service. —The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024

Sacred geometry pendants sold on the Conscious Life Expo’s convention floor. —Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024

Designed for kiddos ages 3 and older, these floating STEM discovery blocks encourage building, pattern-making, counting, geometry, and more. —Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

Beginning with the Italianate geometries of Rio de Janeiro’s Passeio Público, the country’s first municipal garden, built over a pestilential lagoon between 1779 and ’83, Brazilian parks often mirrored European ones. —Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English geometrie, from Anglo-French, from Latin geometria, from Greek geōmetria, from geōmetrein to measure the earth, from geō- ge- + metron measure — more at measure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing geometry

• algebraic geometry
• analytic geometry
• coordinate geometry
• differential geometry
• euclidean geometry
• plane geometry
• projective geometry
• Riemannian geometry
• solid geometry
• spherical geometry
• synthetic geometry

Kids Definition

geometry

noun

ge·​om·​e·​try jē-ˈäm-ə-trē 

plural geometries

1

: a branch of mathematics that deals with points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids

2

: shape entry 2

the geometry of a crystal