vertex

[ vur-teks ]

noun

, plural ver·tex·es, ver·ti·ces [vur, -t, uh, -seez].

1. the highest point of something; apex; summit; top:

   the vertex of a mountain.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. the crown or top of the head.
3. Craniometry. the highest point on the midsagittal plane of the skull or head viewed from the left side when the skull or head is in the Frankfurt horizontal.
4. Astronomy. a point in the celestial sphere toward which or from which the common motion of a group of stars is directed.
5. Geometry.
   1. the point farthest from the base:

      the vertex of a cone or of a pyramid.

   2. a point in a geometrical solid common to three or more sides.
   3. the intersection of two sides of a plane figure.

vertex

/ ˈvɜːtɛks /

noun

1. the highest point
2. maths
   1. the point opposite the base of a figure
   2. the point of intersection of two sides of a plane figure or angle
   3. the point of intersection of a pencil of lines or three or more planes of a solid figure
3. astronomy a point in the sky towards which a star stream appears to move
4. anatomy the crown of the head

vertex

/ vûr′tĕks′ /

, Plural vertices vûr′tĭ-sēz′

1. The point at which the sides of an angle intersect.
2. The point of a triangle, cone, or pyramid that is opposite to and farthest away from its base.
3. A point of a polyhedron at which three or more of the edges intersect.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vertex¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin: “a whirl, top (of the head),” equivalent to vert(ere) “to turn” + -ex (stem -ic- ) noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vertex¹

C16: from Latin: highest point, from vertere to turn

Example Sentences

The vertex is orange-coloured, with a black line in the middle.

From Project Gutenberg

Its shape varies from triangular to orbicular, the mouth of the animal forming the vertex of the triangle.

From Project Gutenberg

In D. Aloeus and its affinities, they are arranged in a triangle, whose vertex is towards the head.

From Project Gutenberg

Those parts which lie on the outside of the posterior half of the eyes, between which the Frons and Vertex intervene.

From Project Gutenberg

The point midway between the vertex V and center of curvature C is called the principal focus, F.

From Project Gutenberg