Added 9 October 2026
orthogonal
/ɔːˈθɒɡ.ə.nəl/ adjective
Latin root: orthogōnālis Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about orthogonal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Of two objects, at right angles; perpendicular to each other.
A chord and the radius that bisects it are orthogonal.
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Of a pair of vectors: having a zero inner product; perpendicular.
The normal vector and tangent vector at a given point are orthogonal.
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Of a pair of vectors: having a zero inner product; perpendicular.
The normal vector and tangent vector at a given point are orthogonal.
noun
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An orthogonal line.
All of the orthogonals in this painting display an understanding of linear perspective.
Origin
From Middle French orthogonal, in turn from Medieval Latin orthogōnālis and Latin orthogōnius (“right-angled”), ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀρθογώνιος (orthogṓnios, “rectangular”). By surface analysis, ortho- + -gon + -al.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)