Pythagorean

American  

[pi-thag-uh-ree-uhn] / pɪˌθæg əˈri ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Pythagoras, to his school, or to his doctrines.

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noun

1. a follower of Pythagoras.

Pythagorean British  

/ paɪˌθæɡəˈriːən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Pythagoras

2. denoting the diatonic scale of eight notes arrived at by Pythagoras and based on a succession of fifths

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noun

1. a follower of Pythagoras

Other Word Forms

• post-Pythagorean adjective

Etymology

Origin of Pythagorean

1540–50; < Latin Pȳthagorē ( us ) (< Greek Pȳthagóreios of Pythagoras) + -an

Example Sentences

Two high school students have proved the Pythagorean theorem in a way that one early 20th-century mathematician thought was impossible: using trigonometry.

From Scientific American

In Plato's dialogue Meno, Socrates coaxes the Pythagorean theorem out of an uneducated boy by asking him a series of simple questions.

From Scientific American

Fortunately, there’s a much easier way to use the Pythagorean theorem on a job site.

From Seattle Times

“Yeah, Pythagorean theorem,” Kelly cracked when asked what he had learned from his players.

From Los Angeles Times

And they defied Bill James’ Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball that projected them to go 76-86 based on their minus-51 run differential.

From Seattle Times