# horizontal

/ˌhɔɹəˈzɑntəɫ/ (US) · /hˌɒɹɪzˈɒntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/horizontal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. flat or level

adjective · CEFR B1

flat and level; parallel to the ground rather than going up and down.

For teachers: parallel to the plane of the horizon; at right angles to the vertical.

- The carpenter used a tool to make sure the shelf was perfectly horizontal.
- The architect emphasised the horizontal lines of the building to help it blend into the flat landscape of the surrounding plains.

### 2. successive notes

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing music where notes are played one after another in a melody.

For teachers: relating to the sequential progression of notes in a melody rather than the simultaneous notes of a chord.

- The teacher explained that a melody is a horizontal arrangement of notes.
- The composer focused on the horizontal development of the fugue, ensuring each melodic line remained distinct within the polyphonic texture.

### 3. disease transmission

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

the spread of a disease between individuals of the same generation.

For teachers: relating to the transmission of an infectious agent between members of the same generation, rather than from parent to offspring.

- The virus spread through horizontal transmission among the students in the dorm.
- Public health officials monitored the horizontal transmission of the pathogen within the community to determine if social distancing measures were effective.

### 4. sexual

adjective · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal

a polite or funny way to talk about sex.

For teachers: used as a euphemism for sexual activity, referring to the typical physical position during intercourse.

- They were enjoying some horizontal exercise on their afternoon off.
- The tabloid used a variety of horizontal metaphors to describe the celebrity's latest romantic scandal without being explicitly graphic.

### 5. a flat part

noun · CEFR B2

a part of a structure or a line that is flat and level.

For teachers: a horizontal line, plane, or structural component.

- The artist drew several strong horizontals to represent the sea.
- The engineer checked the horizontals of the steel frame to ensure the weight was distributed evenly across the foundation.

## Examples

- Draw a horizontal line across the middle of the page.
- The architect insisted on using horizontal wooden planks to make the small building appear wider than it actually was.
- In many sedimentary rock formations, the layers remain perfectly horizontal for miles unless tectonic forces eventually tilt or fold them into new orientations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.