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
vertex |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vertex \Ver"tex\, n.; pl {Vertexes}, L. {Vertices}. [L. vertex, -icis, a whirl, top of the head, top summit, from vertere to turn. See {Verse}, and cf {Vortex}.] A turning point; the principal or highest point; top summit; crown; apex. Specifically: a (Anat.) The top or crown, of the head. b (Anat.) The zenith, or the point of the heavens directly overhead. c (Math.) The point in any figure opposite to and farthest from the base; the terminating point of some particular line or lines in a figure or a curve; the top or the point opposite the base. Note: The principal vertex of a conic section is in the parabola, the vertex of the axis of the curve: in the ellipse, either extremity of either axis, but usually the left-hand vertex of the transverse axis; in the hyperbola, either vertex, but usually the right-hand vertex of the transverse axis. {Vertex of a curve} (Math.), the point in which the axis of the curve intersects it {Vertex of an angle} (Math.), the point in which the sides of the angle meet {Vertex of a solid}, or {of a surface of revolution} (Math.), the point in which the axis pierces the surface. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: vertex n 1: the point of intersection of lines or the point opposite the base of a figure 2: the highest point of something [syn: {peak}, {apex}, {acme}]
more about vertex