perimeter

American  

[puh-rim-i-ter] / pəˈrɪm ɪ tər /

noun

1. a line bounding or marking off an area.

   The police created a perimeter with caution tape around the crime scene.

2. the outermost limits.

   Under the new regulations, the smoke-free area for playgrounds and sports areas extends 20 meters from the perimeter of each site.

3. Geometry.

   1. the border or outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure.

   2. the length of such a boundary.

4. Military. a fortified boundary that protects a troop position.

5. Ophthalmology. an instrument for determining the peripheral field of vision.

6. Basketball. Often the perimeter

   1. Also called three-point line.  a semicircular line on a basketball court surrounding the basket, outside of which field goals are worth three points rather than two.

   2. the area outside this line (often used attributively).

      There's no player in the NBA who puts more pressure on opposing defenses from the perimeter than him.

      The team needs an efficient point guard with a great perimeter shot.

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perimeter British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈmɛtrɪk, pəˈrɪmɪtə /

noun

1. maths

   1. the curve or line enclosing a plane area

   2. the length of this curve or line

2. 1. any boundary around something, such as a field

   2. ( as modifier )

      a perimeter fence

      a perimeter patrol

3. a medical instrument for measuring the limits of the field of vision

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perimeter Scientific  

/ pə-rĭm′ĭ-tər /

1. The sum of the lengths of the segments that form the sides of a polygon.

2. The total length of any closed curve, such as the circumference of a circle.

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Other Word Forms

• perimeterless adjective
• perimetral adjective
• perimetric adjective
• perimetrical adjective
• perimetrically adverb
• perimetry noun

Etymology

Origin of perimeter

First recorded in 1585–95; from French périmètre, from Latin perimetros (feminine), from Greek perímetron (neuter); equivalent to peri- + -meter

Example Sentences

Get the private offices with doors away from the perimeter windows!

From The Wall Street Journal

Inside Tesla’s Palo Alto, Calif., engineering headquarters, robots routinely circle the inside perimeter of offices gathering information on how to navigate a room alongside humans.

From The Wall Street Journal

Urban testified that they did not walk the full perimeter of the burn scar.

From Los Angeles Times

A perimeter was established and several nearby residences were evacuated as the area was secured.

From Los Angeles Times

Footage of the raid shows three people coming out of it with their hands up, while heavily armed police officers in tactical gear surrounded the perimeter.

From BBC

Related Words

• boundary
• confines
• edge
• fringe
• periphery