# vertex

/ˈvɝˌtɛks/ (US) · /vˈɜːtɛks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vertex
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. highest point

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the highest point or the top of something.

For teachers: the highest point, top, or apex of a structure or object.

- The climbers finally reached the vertex of the mountain just before sunset.
- In anatomical terms, the vertex refers to the highest point of the skull, often used as a reference for height measurements.

Usage: The plural form is usually 'vertices' in technical contexts, though 'vertexes' is occasionally seen.

### 2. geometry corner

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a point where two or more lines or edges meet, like the corner of a triangle.

For teachers: the point of intersection of two or more rays or the edges of a polygon or polyhedron.

- A triangle has three vertices where its sides meet.
- To calculate the area of the irregular polygon, the students first had to identify the coordinates of each vertex.

Usage: Commonly used in geometry and trigonometry to describe the 'corners' of shapes.

### 3. graph theory point

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a single point in a network or graph that is connected to others by lines.

For teachers: a fundamental unit or node in a graph, representing an entity that may be connected to others via edges.

- In this social network map, each person is represented by a vertex.
- The algorithm efficiently finds the shortest path between two vertices in a complex weighted graph.

Usage: Standard terminology in computer science and discrete mathematics.

## Examples

- The vertex of the triangle is at the top of the page.
- In computer graphics, each vertex of a 3D model must be precisely calculated to render the shape correctly.
- The surgeon carefully identified the vertex of the skull before beginning the procedure to ensure the incision was placed at the highest anatomical point.

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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.