diameter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A straight line passing through the centre of a circle from one side to the other.

   Draw a line through the centre to mark the diameter of the circle.

2. 2
   noun

   The length of such a line; the width of a round object across its centre.

   The pipe has a diameter of ten centimetres.

From Old French diametre (French diamètre), from Latin diametros, from Ancient Greek διάμετρος (diámetros) (γραμμή (grammḗ)) (diametros grammē, “line measuring across”), from διά (diá, “across”) + μέτρον (métron, “measure”). By surface analysis, dia- + -meter.

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