vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvər-tə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the top of the head

2

a

: the point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure

b

: a point (as of an angle, polygon, polyhedron, graph, or network) that terminates a line or curve or comprises the intersection of two or more lines or curves

c

: a point where an axis of an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola intersects the curve itself

3

: a principal or highest point : summit

the vertex of the hill

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Certain phenomena—such as projecting flight paths around planets onto 2D spaces, or the space between two vertices of a graph—violate Euclidean (or coordinate) geometry; luckily, Riemannian geometry, frequently used to study the curvature of surfaces, can still model them. —Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023

Finally, notice that the Tohoku population represents a vertex of a triangle where the two other positions are held by the Okinawans and Chinese. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2011

Brain differences between the 23 participants were quantified at each surface vertex. —Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2013

Initially, every vertex has the same probability of being open to the flow of water. —Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2021

For each bit of information, draw a vertex (or node), called a digit node. —Quanta Magazine, 24 Nov. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, top of the head, from Latin vertic-, vertex, vortic-, vortex whirl, whirlpool, top of the head, summit, from vertere to turn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the point of a figure that is opposite to and farthest from its base

the vertex of a triangle

2

: the point where the two sides of an angle meet or where three or more edges of a polyhedron (as a cube) meet

Medical Definition

vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the top of the head

2

: the highest point of the skull