browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
perpendicular |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, n. 1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction. 2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, a. [L. perpendicularis perpendicularius: cf F. perpendiculaire See {Perpendicle}, {Pension}.] 1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth. 2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc {Perpendicular style} (Arch.), a name given to the latest variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed from the close of the 14th century to the early part of the 16th; -- probably so called from the vertical style of its window mullions. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: perpendicular adj 1: intersecting at or forming right angles; "the axes are perpendicular to each other" [ant: {oblique}, {parallel}] 2: at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line "a vertical camera angle"; "the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab"; "measure the perpendicular height" [syn: {vertical}] [ant: {inclined}, {horizontal}] 3: extremely steep; "the great perpendicular face of the cliff" n 1: a straight line at right angles to another line 2: a Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England; characterized by vertical lines, a four-centered (Tudor) arch, fan vaulting [syn: {perpendicular style}, {English-Gothic}, {English-Gothic architecture}] 3: a cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given point [syn: {plumb line}] 4: an extremely steep face
more about perpendicular