triangular
Americanadjective
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Also: trigonal. of, shaped like, or relating to a triangle; having three corners or sides
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of or involving three participants, pieces, or units
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maths having a base shaped like a triangle
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of triangular
1535–45; < Latin triangulāris, equivalent to triangul ( um ) triangle + -āris -ar 1
Explanation
Anything that looks like a a shape with three sides and three angles is triangular. If you see a triangular fin in the ocean while you’re swimming, watch out! Shark! Start looking for triangular shapes and you'll begin to see them everywhere, from a triangular slice of pizza to a tortilla chip. Like triangle, triangular is rooted in the Latin tri-, "three," and angulus, "angle or corner." You'll also occasionally find this adjective describing things that involve three people, like a triangular relationship between three best friends.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then, in 1707, the Act of Union paved the way for Scottish ships to join what became known as The Triangular Trade.
From BBC • Aug. 29, 2020
Triangular metal gutters run below the corrugated roofs on all the buildings at his home, transporting water into storage tanks below.
From Reuters • Jan. 11, 2017
Triangular chips accompany an exhilarating shrimp, squid and crab cocktail that resembles a seafood-packed gazpacho.
From Seattle Times • May 19, 2016
Triangular medals fail as a protectable element because common geometric shapes can’t be copyrighted.
From Time • Mar. 30, 2016
Triangular color blocks sit on tiered trays like a series of sugary petit-cakes.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
