perpendicularity

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌpɝpənˌdɪkjuˈlɛrəti/ UK /ˌpɜːpənˌdɪkjʊˈlærəti/ See IPA manual

Freq #1203594

Meanings

1

noun
the state or relation of meeting a line or plane at a right angle

The engineer used a square to verify the perpendicularity of the beam to the floor.
2

noun
the quality of being exactly upright or extremely steep

Climbers were intimidated by the sheer perpendicularity of the rock face.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state or relation of... orthogonalityright-angularity

2 noun · the quality of being... verticalityuprightness steepness

Opposites

parallelism obliquity inclination

Word family

Related forms perpendicular orthogonal verticalright angle

Etymology

Formed from perpendicular + -ity. Perpendicular comes from Latin perpendicularis, based on perpendiculum, 'a plumb line,' from perpendere, 'weigh or examine carefully.' A hanging plumb line supplied the model for exact verticality and, by geometry, a right angle.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# perpendicularity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɝpənˌdɪkjuˈlɛrəti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpɜːpənˌdɪkjʊˈlærəti/
**Frequency rank:** 1203594

## Meanings
1. the state or relation of meeting a line or plane at a right angle
2. the quality of being exactly upright or extremely steep

## Examples
- The engineer used a square to verify the perpendicularity of the beam to the floor.
- Climbers were intimidated by the sheer perpendicularity of the rock face.

## Synonyms
- orthogonality
- right-angularity
- verticality
- uprightness
- steepness

## Antonyms
- parallelism
- obliquity
- inclination

## Related Forms
- perpendicular
- orthogonal
- vertical
- right angle

## Etymology
Formed from perpendicular + -ity. Perpendicular comes from Latin perpendicularis, based on perpendiculum, 'a plumb line,' from perpendere, 'weigh or examine carefully.' A hanging plumb line supplied the model for exact verticality and, by geometry, a right angle.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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