diagonal

[dahy-ag-uh-nl, -ag-nl]

adjective

1. Mathematics.

   1. connecting two nonadjacent angles or vertices of a polygon or polyhedron, as a straight line.

   2. extending from one edge of a solid figure to an opposite edge, as a plane.

2. having an oblique direction.

3. having oblique lines, ridges, markings, etc.

noun

1. a diagonal line or plane.

2. virgule.

3. a diagonal row, part, pattern, etc.

4. Manège.,  (of a horse at a trot) the foreleg and the hind leg, diagonally opposite, which move forward simultaneously.

5. diagonal cloth.

6. Mathematics.,  a set of entries in a square matrix running either from upper left to lower right main diagonal, or principal diagonal or lower left to upper right secondary diagonal.

7. Chess.,  one of the oblique lines of squares on a chessboard.

   He advanced his bishop along the open diagonal.

diagonal

/ daɪˈæɡənəl /

adjective

1. maths connecting any two vertices that in a polygon are not adjacent and in a polyhedron are not in the same face

2. slanting; oblique

3. marked with slanting lines or patterns

noun

1. maths a diagonal line or plane

2. chess any oblique row of squares of the same colour

3. cloth marked or woven with slanting lines or patterns

4. something put, set, or drawn obliquely

5. another name for solidus

6. one front leg and the hind leg on the opposite side of a horse, which are on the ground together when the horse is trotting

diagonal

1. Connecting two nonadjacent corners in a polygon or two nonadjacent corners in a polyhedron that do not lie in the same face.

1. A diagonal line segment.

Other Word Forms

• diagonally adverb
• nondiagonal adjective
• nondiagonally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of diagonal¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin diagōnālis, from Greek diagṓn(ios) “from angle to angle” + Latin -ālis adjective suffix; dia-, -gon, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of diagonal¹

C16: from Latin diagōnālis, from Greek diagōnios, from _dia- + gōnia angle

Example Sentences

In terms of long passing, Virgil van Dijk possesses a great long diagonal pass that has found Mohamed Salah isolated on the right wing numerous times over the last few years to similar effect.

Read more on BBC

He also envisions a novel structural system: divide the building into eight-story modules, where the loads of each module are transferred by diagonal braces to the main columns.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This bold diagonal, cut through the prim Quaker street grid, produced a great many awkwardly shaped blocks, including the pointy trapezoid between the Parkway and the Vine Street Expressway that houses Calder Gardens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The fourth goal came in stoppage time when Berterame finished off a diagonal cross from the right.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet it was another Tigers replacement, Perese, who stole the show almost instantly, hitting the line at full tilt just inside the Sale half and scorching away on a diagonal run to the left corner.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crosswise 
• oblique 
• slanted www.thesaurus.com