Word
perpendicular
Phoneticsper·pen·dic·u·lar, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌpɝpənˈdɪkjəɫɝ/
UK/pˌɜːpəndˈɪkjʊlɐ/
Definitions
01at a right angle
B2 · Upper Intermediate Mathematics
adj. forming a 90-degree angle to another line or surface.
adj. meeting a given line or surface at a right angle (90 degrees).
“The wall is perpendicular to the floor, forming a perfect corner.”
“The architect ensured that the support beams were exactly perpendicular to the foundation to maintain structural integrity.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02architecture style
C1 · Advanced Architecture Technical
adj. a style of English building from the 1300s and 1400s with many straight vertical lines.
adj. relating to the final stage of English Gothic architecture, characterised by vertical tracery and large windows.
“The cathedral is a famous example of the Perpendicular style.”
“The chapel features the soaring verticality and intricate fan vaulting typical of the Perpendicular period of English Gothic design.”
03a vertical line
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a line that is at a 90-degree angle to another line.
n. a line or plane that stands at a right angle to another.
“The teacher asked the students to draw a perpendicular from the top of the triangle.”
“To calculate the height of the slope, you must first drop a perpendicular from the highest point to the base line.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Typically used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'remain', or as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Pitfall
The wall is perpendicular with the floor.
The wall is perpendicular to the floor.
The adjective 'perpendicular' takes the preposition 'to', not 'with'.
Real-World Examples
“The island is unusually broad, running perpendicular to the Florida coast, and currents deposit more than 400 shell species on its 15 miles of beaches.” “Cooling the material even further produces a second wave pattern running perpendicular to the first.” Etymology
Derived from Middle French perpendiculaire, from Old French perpendiculer, from Latin perpendiculum (“plumb line”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/perpendicular