Perpendicular
[,pɜːp(ə)n'dɪkjʊlə] or ['pɝpən'dɪkjəlɚ]
Definition
(noun.) an extremely steep face.
(noun.) a Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England; characterized by vertical lines and a four-centered (Tudor) arch and fan vaulting.
(noun.) a straight line at right angles to another line.
(adj.) extremely steep; 'the great perpendicular face of the cliff' .
(adj.) intersecting at or forming right angles; 'the axes are perpendicular to each other' .
Editor: Rodney--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth.
(a.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc.
(n.) A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction.
(n.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side.
Inputed by Elizabeth
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Vertical, upright, pointing to the zenith.[2]. At right angles, making a right angle.
Editor: Rae
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Vertical, upright, standing_upright
ANT:Horizontal
Inputed by Donald
Definition
adj. exactly upright: extending in a straight line toward the centre of the earth: (geom.) at right angles to a given line or surface.—n. a perpendicular line or plane.—n. Perpendicular′ity state of being perpendicular.—adv. Perpendic′ularly.—Perpendicular style a style of Gothic architecture in England which succeeded the Decorated style prevailing from the end of the 14th to the middle of the 16th century contemporary with the Flamboyant style in France marked by stiff and rectilinear lines mostly vertical window-tracery depressed or four-centre arch fan-tracery vaulting and panelled walls.
Edited by Lester
Examples
- When a ray of light passes from water or glass into air, the refracted ray is bent away from the perpendicular so that the angle of refraction is greater than the angle of incidence. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Little white villages surrounded by trees, nestle in the valleys or roost upon the lofty perpendicular sea-walls. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- These four perpendicular ranges of windows admitted air, and, the fire being kindled, heat, or smoke at least, to each of the galleries. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- If the sunbeam strikes the mirror at an angle of 32° with the perpendicular, the path of the reflected ray also makes an angle of 32° with the perpendicular. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- The cliff arose for several hundred feet on my right, and on my left was an equal and nearly perpendicular drop to the bottom of a rocky ravine. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- It was found, however, that the perpendicular pressure of a few inches of water was quite sufficient to force the gas through the mains and small pipes of an extensive range of streets. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- They are perpendicular borings into the ground through which water rises to the surface of the soil, producing a constant flow or stream. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- At a little distance up the river rose mighty perpendicular bluffs, from the very base of which the great river seemed to rise. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- If a mirror is held so that a ray of light strikes it in a perpendicular direction, the light is reflected backward along the path by which it came. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Wadsworth with his division, which had arrived the night before, lay in a line perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the right of Hancock. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The angle of refraction is the angle formed by the refracted ray and the perpendicular to the surface at the point where the light strikes it. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- This was done by making a loop in the wire and putting it over the spike and raising the pole to a perpendicular position. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- When light passes from air into water or glass, the refracted ray is bent toward the perpendicular, so that the angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Where roads and streets are cut through, perpendicular banks are left and stand as well as if composed of stone. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The descent was steep but not perpendicular. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
Edited by Angelina