triangle
- 01 A1 Beginner
a flat shape that has three straight sides and three corners.
a polygon with three sides and three interior angles.
Simple“The children learned how to draw a square, a circle, and a triangle.”
In context“The architect used a series of interlocking triangles to distribute the weight of the roof across the glass walls.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a musical instrument made of a metal bar bent into a triangle shape that you hit with a small metal stick.
an idiophone percussion instrument consisting of a steel rod bent into a triangular shape, typically struck with a metal beater.
Simple“The boy waited for his turn to hit the triangle during the school concert.”
In context“The composer added a single triangle stroke at the end of the movement to provide a bright, shimmering finish to the orchestral texture.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a complicated situation where three people are involved in a romantic relationship with each other.
a romantic relationship involving three people, often characterized by conflict or jealousy.
Simple“The movie is about a messy love triangle between two best friends and a new neighbor.”
In context“The novel explores the psychological tension within a love triangle, focusing on how secrets eventually erode the trust between the three protagonists.”
Synonymslove triangle - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
a flat, plastic tool shaped like a triangle used for drawing straight lines and angles.
a technical drawing instrument, often called a set square, used to provide a straightedge at a specific angle to a baseline.
Simple“You will need a ruler and a triangle to finish your geometry homework.”
In context“The engineering student used a plastic triangle to ensure that every vertical line in the blueprint was perfectly perpendicular to the base.”
Synonymsset square - 05 B1 Intermediate
a frame used to arrange the balls into a triangle before starting a game of pool.
a triangular frame used to rack the balls at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.
Simple“He placed the balls inside the triangle and made sure they were tight before the first shot.”
In context“After the previous frame ended, the referee carefully positioned the triangle to reset the balls for the next round of the tournament.”
Synonyms
From triangle; in North Carolina from being a triangular region.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.