perpendicular
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.forming a 90-degree angle to another line or surface.
adj.meeting a given line or surface at a right angle (90 degrees).
Simple“The wall is perpendicular to the floor, forming a perfect corner.”
In context“The architect ensured that the support beams were exactly perpendicular to the foundation to maintain structural integrity.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'to'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The cathedral is a famous example of the Perpendicular style.”
In context“The chapel features the soaring verticality and intricate fan vaulting typical of the Perpendicular period of English Gothic design.”
UsageOften capitalized as 'Perpendicular' when referring to the specific historical period.
- 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The teacher asked the students to draw a perpendicular from the top of the triangle.”
In context“To calculate the height of the slope, you must first drop a perpendicular from the highest point to the base line.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'drop a perpendicular'.
SynonymsAntonyms
“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.”
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.