latus rectum

[ ley-tuhs rek-tuhm ]

noun

, Geometry.

, plural la·ter·a rec·ta [ley, -ter-, uh, , rek, -t, uh].

1. the chord perpendicular to the principal axis and passing through a focus of an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola.

latus rectum

/ ˈlɑːtəs ˈrɛktəm /

noun

1. geometry a chord that passes through the focus of a conic and is perpendicular to the major axis

Word History and Origins

Origin of latus rectum¹

1695–1705; < New Latin: literally, straight side

Word History and Origins

Origin of latus rectum¹

C18: New Latin: straight side