angle

¹ American  

[ang-guhl] / ˈæŋ gəl /

noun

1. Geometry.

   1. the space within two lines or three or more planes diverging from a common point, or within two planes diverging from a common line.

   2. the figure so formed.

   3. the amount of rotation needed to bring one line or plane into coincidence with another, generally measured in radians or in degrees, minutes, and seconds, as in 12° 10prime; 30″, which is read as 12 degrees, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds.

2. an angular projection; a projecting corner.

   the angles of a building.

3. a viewpoint; standpoint.

   He looked at the problem only from his own angle.

4. Journalism.

   1. slant.

   2. the point of view from which copy is written, especially when the copy is intended to interest a particular audience.

      The financial editor added a supplementary article from the investor's angle.

5. one aspect of an event, problem, subject, etc..

   The accountant emphasized the tax angle of the leasing arrangement.

6. Movies, Photography. angle shot.

7. Informal. a secret motive.

   She's been too friendly lately—what's her angle?

8. Astrology. any of the four interceptions of the equatorial circle by the two basic axes, the horizon and the meridian: commonly identified by the compass directions.

9. angle iron.

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verb (used with object)

angled, angling

1. to move or bend in an angle.

2. to set, fix, direct, or adjust at an angle.

   to angle a spotlight.

3. Journalism. to write or edit in such a way as to appeal to a particular audience; slant.

   She angled her column toward teenagers.

verb (used without object)

angled, angling

1. to turn sharply in a different direction.

   The road angles to the right.

2. to move or go in angles or at an angle.

   The trout angled downstream.

idioms

1. play the angles, to use every available means to reach one's goal.

   A second-rate talent can survive only by playing all the angles.

angle ² American  

[ang-guhl] / ˈæŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

angled, angling

1. to fish with hook and line.

2. to attempt to get something by sly or artful means; fish.

   to angle for a compliment.

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noun

1. Archaic. a fishhook or fishing tackle.

Angle ³ American  

[ang-guhl] / ˈæŋ gəl /

noun

1. a member of a West Germanic people that migrated from Schleswig to Britain in the 5th century a.d. and founded the kingdoms of East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria. As early as the 6th century their name was extended to all the Germanic inhabitants of Britain.

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angle ¹ British  

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to fish with a hook and line

2. (often foll by for) to attempt to get

   he angled for a compliment

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noun

1. obsolete any piece of fishing tackle, esp a hook

angle ² British  

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

noun

1. the space between two straight lines that diverge from a common point or between two planes that extend from a common line

2. the shape formed by two such lines or planes

3. the extent to which one such line or plane diverges from another, measured in degrees or radians

4. an angular projection or recess; corner

5. standpoint; point of view

   look at the question from another angle

   the angle of a newspaper article

6. informal a selfish or devious motive or purpose

7. See angle iron

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verb

1. to move in or bend into angles or an angle

2. (tr) to produce (an article, statement, etc) with a particular point of view

3. (tr) to present, direct, or place at an angle

4. (intr) to turn or bend in a different direction

   the path angled sharply to the left

Angle ³ British  

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a member of a West Germanic people from N Germany who invaded and settled large parts of E and N England in the 5th and 6th centuries _a.d

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angle Scientific  

/ ăng′gəl /

1. A geometric figure formed by two lines that begin at a common point or by two planes that begin at a common line.

2. The space between such lines or planes, measured in degrees.

3. See also acute angle obtuse angle right angle

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Etymology

Origin of angle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin angulus, akin to uncus “bent” and Greek ankýlos “crooked, curved”; ancylo- ( def. ),

Origin of angle²

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun angel, angle, angul, Old English angel, angul; cognate with Frisian, Dutch angel, Old Saxon, Old High German angul, German Angel, Old Norse ǫngull; Greek ankýlos “bent, curved,” Sanskrit aṅkuśá- “hook, fishhook”; akin to Old English anga “a sting,” Old High German ango, Latin uncus “hook, barb,” Greek ónkos “hook, barb of an arrow”; the verb is derivative of the noun; relation, if any, to Latin angulus angle ¹ not clear

Origin of Angle³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin Anglus (plural Anglī ) source of Old English Engle (plural) “the English,” variant of Engle, the name of a tribe that lived in modern-day Angeln (so named from its shape), in Schleswig; akin to angle ¹; English ( def. )

Explanation

Remember all those pesky geometry classes in high school? Then you'll remember measuring the angle or space between two intersecting lines in degrees. If you recall that a right angle measures ninety degrees, give yourself a bonus. Angle can also mean a biased way of looking at or presenting something. Talk radio stations, for example, often discuss current events with a "political angle." On a far more peaceful note, to angle also means simply to fish, both in the literal sense of trying to catch a fish on a hook or in the metaphorical sense of trying to subtly obtain something without being seen to do so directly, as in, "I'm going to angle for a promotion at work."

Example Sentences

Bonus: This helps ensure the screw will be driven in straight and not at an angle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Speaking at the press conference, Nasa associate administrator Anit Kshatriya contrasted the precision of that angle with the 250,000-mile journey to the Moon.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Their analysis showed that leaf angle played a key role.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

The positive angle is how bearish it would have been for the insiders to have instead sold aggressively in March.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

If he came in at too shallow an angle, his ship would bounce off the atmosphere like a stone skipping off the surface of a pond.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• aspect
• direction
• perspective
• point of view
• slant
• standpoint
• viewpoint