dihedral

American  

[dahy-hee-druhl] / daɪˈhi drəl /

adjective

1. having or formed by two planes.

2. of or relating to a dihedron.

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noun

1. dihedron.

2. Aeronautics. the angle at which the right and left wings or the halves of any other horizontal surface of an airplane or the like are inclined upward or downward.

dihedral British  

/ daɪˈhiːdrəl /

adjective

1. having or formed by two intersecting planes; two-sided

   a dihedral angle

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noun

1. Also called: dihedron.   dihedral angle.  the figure formed by two intersecting planes

2. the US name for corner

3. the upward inclination of an aircraft wing in relation to the lateral axis Compare anhedral

dihedral Scientific  

/ dī-hē′drəl /

1. Formed by a pair of planes or sections of planes that intersect.

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Etymology

Origin of dihedral

First recorded in 1790–1800; di- ¹ + -hedral

Example Sentences

Once you have effortlessly raised the wonderfully balanced dihedral door, you are presented with the task of awkwardly sliding yourself into the form fitting driver’s seat.

From The Verge • Dec. 29, 2017

To get proper stability, he explained, they should be set at a slight angle, the "dihedral" of a modern airplane.

From Time Magazine Archive

They gathered in little groups, talking in terms of dihedral, torque, centre-of-gravity, drag, wing-loading, etc., etc.

From Time Magazine Archive

Soaring in the skies above Rome is not Christ but Marcello Mastroianni, all 154 pounds of him up there flying on a string like a great dihedral kite.

From Time Magazine Archive

The main plane is built upon four transverse spars of ash, set at a slight dihedral angle, two being placed on each side of the central bamboo.

From Flying Machines: construction and operation; a practical book which shows, in illustrations, working plans and text, how to build and navigate the modern airship by Chanute, Octave