The simplest tetrahedron is made of four equal-sided triangles: one is used as the base, and the other three are fitted to it and each other to make a pyramid. But the great pyramids of Egypt aren't tetrahedrons: they instead have a square base and four triangular faces, and thus are five-sided rather than four-sided.
Examples of tetrahedron in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
In one example, a robot shaped like a tetrahedron attached an extra piece to act like a walking stick, increasing its downhill speed by more than 66.5 percent.—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 Constructed from Alexander Graham Bell’s simple tetrahedron cell, the Cygnet model consists of two equilateral paper triangles, connected and illuminated by a hidden light source.—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025 Technically, a tetrahedron is a pyramid with all four faces of the shape being triangular, including the bottom of it, as is the design of the Tetra.—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2024 The would-be tetrahedron vessel is designed to be able to carry six Tom Cruise clone passengers, as well as three Victoria clones and one Julia crew members.—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2024 The resulting shape at the center of these overlapping spheres is known as the Reuleaux tetrahedron.—Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024 Three-dimensional objects can be similarly modeled; for these, the FEs are usually either blocks or tetrahedra, and the number of equations is typically much higher.—Manil Suri, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 The stack of twisting, growing tetrahedra — a nod to nonlinear scientific advancement — looms, 42 feet high, like a sphinx.—Megan Molteni, STAT, 14 Mar. 2023 Five years ago, at age 94, Fromson awarded a grant through his philanthropic foundation to the University of Connecticut to determine if a tetrahedron packed with different elements could improve the durability of the undersides of U.S. Humvees in Iraq.—Kenneth R. Gosselin, courant.com, 28 June 2021
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Late Greek tetraedron, neuter of tetraedros having four faces, from Greek tetra- + hedra seat, face — more at sit
Share