protractor

noun pro·trac·tor \ prō-ˈtrak-tər , prə- \

|Updated on: 28 May 2018

Definition of protractor

1 a : one that protracts

b : a muscle that extends a part

2 : an instrument for laying down and measuring angles in drawing and plotting

See protractor defined for English-language learners

See protractor defined for kids

Recent Examples of protractor from the Web

Now hold the protractor upside down and aim the straight part towards the North Star.

— rhett allain, WIRED, "Figure Out Where You Are With Nothing But a Watch and Protractor," 3 May 2018
Better whip out your protractor for this one, Meg … • Stop eating when the queen stops eating.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "What Are the Most Bizarre Royal Etiquette Rules?," 3 May 2018
Last November, the can reappeared, only this time in sterling with a vermeil interior, as part of Krakoff’s Everyday Objects collection, which also includes a $9,000 silver ball of yarn and a $425 silver-and-walnut protractor.

— christina binkley, WSJ, "The Secret Inside Tiffany’s Blue Box: Reed Krakoff," 26 Mar. 2018
The pieces will include sterling silver protractors, rulers, a drinking straw, a first aid kit, and a paper cup.

— stellene volandes, Town & Country, "Inside the Secret World of Tiffany & Co.'s Silversmiths," 12 Sep. 2017
Items needed for the Stuff the Bus campaign include: • Pencils (regular and colored), pens, markers (washable and dry erase) • Crayons, highlighters • Blunt edge scissors, protractors, compasses, erasers • Glue sticks and white glue bottles •

— The Aegis, "Harford Education Foundation's Stuff the Bus under way," 22 Aug. 2017
Key school supplies such as backpacks are tax-free, as are binders, calculators, compasses, composition books, pens, pencils, protractors, legal pads and more.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Planning on tax-free shopping this weekend? Here’s how to survive and thrive," 9 Aug. 2017
Step 2: Use a protractor to mark three lines from the center of the blade, 120 degrees apart.

— nick moreau, Popular Mechanics, "How to Make a A Saw-Blade Trivet," 2 Aug. 2017
But for many families, the tradition of trekking to a store and pushing a cart loaded with pencils, notebooks, folder, tissue boxes, a protractor and a first-day outfit remains intact, one of the last strongholds in a fast-changing retail industry.

— lauren zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "How many notebooks do you need? Families still hitting stores before the books," 27 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protractor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of protractor

circa 1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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PROTRACTOR Defined for English Language Learners

protractor

noun

Definition of protractor for English Language Learners

: a device that has the form of a half circle and that is used for drawing and measuring angles

PROTRACTOR Defined for Kids

protractor

noun pro·trac·tor \ prō-ˈtrak-tər \

Definition of protractor for Students

: an instrument used for drawing and measuring angles

Medical Dictionary

protractor

noun pro·trac·tor \ -tər \

medical Definition of protractor

: a muscle that extends a part — compare retractor b

Learn More about protractor

See words that rhyme with protractor Spanish Central: Translation of protractor Nglish: Translation of protractor for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protractor

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protractor

Definition of protractor

Recent Examples of protractor from the Web

First Known Use of protractor

PROTRACTOR Defined for English Language Learners

protractor

Definition of protractor for English Language Learners

PROTRACTOR Defined for Kids

protractor

Definition of protractor for Students

Medical Dictionary

protractor

medical Definition of protractor

Learn More about protractor

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Recent Examples of protractor from the Web

First Known Use of protractor

PROTRACTOR Defined for English Language Learners

protractor

Definition of protractor for English Language Learners

PROTRACTOR Defined for Kids

protractor

Definition of protractor for Students

Medical Dictionary

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