Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, n.
1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a
vertical line or direction.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another
line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each
side.
[1913 Webster]
Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Perpendicular \Per`pen*dic"u*lar\, a. [L. perpendicularis,
perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle,
Pension.]
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as,
the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc.
[1913 Webster]
Perpendicular style (Arch.), a name given to the latest
variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed
from the close of the 14th century to the early part of
the 16th; -- probably so called from the vertical style of
its window mullions.
[1913 Webster]
perpendicular
adj 1: intersecting at or forming right angles; "the axes are
perpendicular to each other" [ant: oblique, parallel]
2: at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line;
"a vertical camera angle"; "the monument consists of two
vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab"; "measure
the perpendicular height" [syn: vertical] [ant: inclined,
horizontal]
3: extremely steep; "the great perpendicular face of the cliff"
n 1: a straight line at right angles to another line
2: a Gothic style in 14th and 15th century England;
characterized by vertical lines and a four-centered
(Tudor) arch and fan vaulting [syn: perpendicular style,
English-Gothic, English-Gothic architecture]
3: 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 [syn: plumbline]
4: an extremely steep face
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