equilateral

[ee-kwuh-lat-er-uh l, ek-wuh-]

See more synonyms for equilateral on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having all the sides equal: an equilateral triangle.

noun

a figure having all its sides equal.
a side equivalent, or equal, to others.

Origin of equilateral

From the Late Latin word aequilaterālis, dating back to 1560–70. See equi-, lateral

Related formse·qui·lat·er·al·ly, adverbnon·e·qui·lat·er·al, adjectivenon·e·qui·lat·er·al·ly, adverbsub·e·qui·lat·er·al, adjectiveun·e·qui·lat·er·al, adjectiveun·e·qui·lat·er·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for equilateral

rectangular, quadrate, quadratic, equilateral, foursquare, boxlike, boxy, orthogonal, rectilinear, squarish

Examples from the Web for equilateral

Contemporary Examples of equilateral

Equilateral can be read as a parable of the ways we blind ourselves through vanity, love, and greed.
The 2013 Novel of the Year Is…
Nathaniel Rich
December 30, 2013
The Khedive of Egypt persuades himself that the success of the equilateral will silence his local political rivals.
The 2013 Novel of the Year Is…
Nathaniel Rich
December 30, 2013

Historical Examples of equilateral

These are the equilateral triangle, the square and the regular hexagon.
Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee
L. L. Langstroth
Are you aware, Mr Gascoigne, of the properties of an equilateral triangle?
Mr. Midshipman Easy
Captain Frederick Marryat
These are the equilateral triangle, the square, and the regular hexagon.
Animal Intelligence
George J. Romanes
Form of the outer shell not a sphere, but a regular octahedron, with eight congruent, equilateral triangular even faces.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel
Cortical shell hexangular, equilateral, five times as broad as the triangular, Triopyle-shaped medullary shell.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel

British Dictionary definitions for equilateral

equilateral

adjective

having all sides of equal lengthan equilateral triangle

noun

a geometric figure having all its sides of equal length
a side that is equal in length to other sides

Derived Formsequilaterally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for equilateral

adj.

1560s, from Late Latin aequilateralis, from aequi- (see equal (adj.)) + lateralis (see lateral).

equilateral in Science

equilateral

[ē′kwə-lăt′ər-əl]

Having all sides of equal length, as a triangle that is neither scalene nor isosceles.