perimeter

[ puh-rim-i-ter ]

noun

1. a line bounding or marking off an area:

   The police created a perimeter with caution tape around the crime scene.

2. the outermost limits:

   Under the new regulations, the smoke-free area for playgrounds and sports areas extends 20 meters from the perimeter of each site.

3. Geometry.
   1. the border or outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure.
   2. the length of such a boundary.
4. Military. a fortified boundary that protects a troop position.
5. Ophthalmology. an instrument for determining the peripheral field of vision.
6. Often the perimeter. Basketball.
   1. Also called three-point line. a semicircular line on a basketball court surrounding the basket, outside of which field goals are worth three points rather than two. three-pointer ( def ).
   2. the area outside this line (often used attributively):

      There's no player in the NBA who puts more pressure on opposing defenses from the perimeter than him.

      The team needs an efficient point guard with a great perimeter shot.

perimeter

/ pəˈrɪmɪtə; ˌpɛrɪˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

1. maths
   1. the curve or line enclosing a plane area
   2. the length of this curve or line
2. 1. any boundary around something, such as a field
   2. ( as modifier )

      a perimeter patrol

      a perimeter fence

3. a medical instrument for measuring the limits of the field of vision

perimeter

/ pə-rĭm′ĭ-tər /

1. The sum of the lengths of the segments that form the sides of a polygon.
2. The total length of any closed curve, such as the circumference of a circle.

Derived Forms

• ˌperiˈmetrically, adverb
• peˈrimetry, noun
• perimetric, adjective

Other Words From

• pe·rim·e·ter·less adjective
• pe·rim·e·tral per·i·met·ric [per-, uh, -, me, -trik], per·i·met·ri·cal adjective
• per·i·met·ri·cal·ly adverb
• pe·rim·e·try noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of perimeter¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from French périmètre, from Latin perimetros (feminine), from Greek perímetron (neuter); equivalent to peri- + -meter

Word History and Origins

Origin of perimeter¹

C16: from French périmètre, from Latin perimetros; see peri- , -meter

Example Sentences

Rollins walked the perimeter because anyone who wasn’t essential staff himself included — was prohibited from going inside.

From ProPublica

Khudobin wasn’t just making stops on low-quality shots from the perimeter — he was stopping everything.

From FiveThirtyEight

Even if defenses wanted to ignore perimeter players and load up in the paint, the Aces don’t give them any time to send that help.

From FiveThirtyEight

The sheet was 1 meter long — meaning the perimeter of your pen could be at most 1 meter — and weighed 1 kilogram, while each post weighed k kilograms.

From FiveThirtyEight

He handles the ball for us, he posts up, he’s on the perimeter, he’s the Defensive Player of the Year.

From FiveThirtyEight

An agent on the outer perimeter radios in that the motorcade is in sight.

From The Daily Beast

Outside the lodge, running along its perimeter, was a small ditch lined by posts topped by a chest-high wooden beam.

From The Daily Beast

SWAT teams moved in and tear gas canisters were heard from the perimeter of what had essentially become a militarized zone.

From The Daily Beast

On Wednesday night, as the main stage acts raged, Capt. Chris Slayman cruised the perimeter of the Gathering.

From The Daily Beast

When the Stalwart vanguard reached the perimeter, their ranks broke in confusion.

From The Daily Beast

Loud-speaker trucks roamed along the perimeter, reassuring the people.

From Project Gutenberg

The line bounding a circle is termed its circumference or periphery and sometimes the perimeter.

From Project Gutenberg

The point which the mirror occupies on the arc of the perimeter, indicates the squint angle.

From Project Gutenberg

Four tangential slots (C) are cut into the perimeter of the pulley (B), and in each is a hardened steel roller (D).

From Project Gutenberg

I was surprised to find out that this city within its protective wall—the perimeter—is the only one on the planet.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boundary
• confines
• edge
• fringe
• periphery