Meanings
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1
adj
connecting two nonadjacent corners of a plane figure or any two corners of a solid that are not in the same face
A diagonal line across the page.
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2
noun
an oblique line of squares of the same color on a checkerboard
The bishop moves on the diagonals.
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3
noun
a straight line connecting any two vertices of a polygon that are not adjacent
The child ran in a direct diagonal between the corners of the street, giving everyone a mild shock of panic.
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4
adj
Having a slanted or oblique direction.
The visitors' undoing was caused by a diagonal ball from the right which was nodded into the six-yard area by Ian Evatt and finished off by Campbell.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle French diagonal, from Latin diagōnālis, from Ancient Greek διαγώνιος (diagṓnios, “from angle to angle”), from διά (diá, “across”) + γωνία (gōnía, “angle”).