vertical

American  

[vur-ti-kuhl] / ˈvɜr tɪ kəl /

adjective

1. being in a position or direction perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb.

   Antonyms:

   horizontal

2. of, relating to, or situated at the vertex.

3. of or relating to the cranial vertex.

4. Botany.

   1. (of a leaf ) having the blade in a perpendicular plane, so that neither of the surfaces can be called upper or lower.

   2. being in the same direction as the axis; lengthwise.

5. of, constituting, or resulting in vertical combination.

6. of or relating to a product or service from initial planning to sale.

7. of, relating to, or noting a stratified society, nation, etc.

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noun

1. something vertical, as a line or plane.

2. a vertical or upright position.

3. a vertical structural member in a truss.

vertical British  

/ ˌvɜːtɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈvɜːtɪkəl /

adjective

1. at right angles to the horizon; perpendicular; upright Compare horizontal

   a vertical wall

2. extending in a perpendicular direction

3. at or in the vertex or zenith; directly overhead

4. economics of or relating to associated or consecutive, though not identical, stages of industrial activity

   vertical integration

   vertical amalgamation

5. of or relating to the vertex

6. anatomy of, relating to, or situated at the top of the head (vertex)

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noun

1. a vertical plane, position, or line

2. a vertical post, pillar, or other structural member

Related Words

See upright.

Other Word Forms

• nonvertical adjective
• nonverticality noun
• nonvertically adverb
• nonverticalness noun
• subvertical adjective
• subvertically adverb
• subverticalness noun
• unvertical adjective
• unvertically adverb
• verticalism noun
• verticality noun
• vertically adverb
• verticalness noun

Etymology

Origin of vertical

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin verticālis, equivalent to vertic- (stem of vertex ) vertex + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Given the sensitivities around healthcare, the company is taking a “deliberate, slightly slower, more meticulous approach” to the vertical than to other topic areas, Suleyman said.

From The Wall Street Journal

While removal of the legal overhang allows management to concentrate on new business verticals as well as international expansion, Grosslight is opting to remain Neutral-rating until he sees renewed growth from those verticals and markets.

From Barron's

Archer’s suit escalates a long-simmering feud between Archer and Joby, as the companies race to bring electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles to market.

From The Wall Street Journal

The method allows light into the bottom of hedgerows to promote dense, vertical regrowth, which in turn provides cover for animals and birds during the winter months.

From BBC

They were also astonished to discover a massive, vertical sinkhole called a blue hole, 75km south of a bank called Grand Turk, that formed when a cave collapsed inwards.

From BBC

Related Words

• perpendicular
• steep