perpendicular Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a straight line at right angles to another line
  2. noun a Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England; characterized by vertical lines and a four-centered (Tudor) arch and fan vaulting
    perpendicular style; English-Gothic architecture; English-Gothic.
  3. noun 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
    plumb line.
  4. noun an extremely steep face
  5. adjective intersecting at or forming right angles
    • the axes are perpendicular to each other
  6. adjective at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
    vertical.
    • a vertical camera angle
    • the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab
    • measure the perpendicular height
  7. adjective satellite extremely steep
    • the great perpendicular face of the cliff

WordNet

Per`pen*dic"u*lar adjective
Etymology
L. perpendicularis, perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle, Pension.
Definitions
  1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth.
  2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc.
Per`pen*dic"u*lar noun
Definitions
  1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction.
  2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side.

Webster 1913