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Added 9 October 2026

perpendicular

/ˌpɜː.pənˈdɪk.jə.lə(ɹ)/ noun

In Latin: perpendiculāris Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about perpendicular at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A straight line at right angles to another line.
A Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England; characterized by vertical lines and a four-centered (Tudor) arch and fan vaulting.
A cord from which a metal weight is suspended pointing directly to the earth's center of gravity; used to determine the vertical from a given point.

adjective

Intersecting at or forming right angles.
the axes are perpendicular to each other
At right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line.
a vertical camera angle
So steep as to be nearly veritcal.
the great perpendicular face of the cliff

Origin

Derived from Middle French perpendiculaire, from Old French perpendiculer, from Latin perpendiculum (“plumb line”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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