rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a parallelogram all of whose angles are right angles

especially : one with adjacent sides of unequal length

Examples of rectangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, repeat with remaining rectangle of dough, rerolling scraps up to two times. 5. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023

Generously sprinkle powdered sugar over dough, and place a piece of parchment paper over rectangle. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 2023

Each rectangle represents one water system, sized by population served. —Agnel Philip, ProPublica, 6 Nov. 2023

Doubling down on this conundrum, the next year Ruscha painted a portrait of the collage on a six-foot canvas, replicating the blue rectangle, green polygon, tattered Orphan Annie, white space, serif letters, befuddling comma. —Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2023

So in organizational terms this show is a milestone, with dozens of classic foggy rectangles bookended by Rothko’s early city scenes (sweet but not special) and late color-free abstractions (truly underrated). —Jason Farago, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023

The lobster agnolotti, topped with a shaving of truffle and a tiny claw, is Finigan’s signature, but my favorite was her love letter to the summer barbecue: a perfectly rare rectangle of steak with a dollop of chimichurri, served atop a yellow heirloom tomato and beside a spoonful of charred corn. —Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023

Brush edges of both pastry rectangles with egg wash, and fold in half lengthwise over filling, creating 2 (15- x 6-inch) rectangles, and crimp edges with a fork to seal. —Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023

Each steel rectangle, 11 by 19 cm (roughly 4 by 7.5 in), has a square hole, and is engraved with the person’s name and profession and their dates of arrest, internment, or execution, and formal rehabilitation. —Kevin Liffey, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rectangulus having a right angle, from Latin rectus right + angulus angle — more at right, angle

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rectangle

noun

rect·​an·​gle ˈrek-ˌtaŋ-gəl 

: a four-sided polygon that has four right angles and each pair of opposite sides parallel and of the same length

Etymology

from Latin rectangulus "having a right angle," from earlier Latin rectus "right" and angulus "angle"