quadrilateral

American  

[kwod-ruh-lat-er-uhl] / ˌkwɒd rəˈlæt ər əl /

adjective

1. having four sides.

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noun

1. a plane figure having four sides and four angles.

2. something of this form.

3. Geometry.

   1. a figure formed by four straight lines that have six points of intersection.

   2. a polygon with four sides.

4. the space enclosed between and defended by four fortresses.

quadrilateral British  

/ ˌkwɒdrɪˈlætərəl /

adjective

1. having or formed by four sides

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noun

1. Also called: tetragon.  a polygon having four sides. A complete quadrilateral consists of four lines and their six points of intersection

quadrilateral Scientific  

/ kwŏd′rə-lăt′ər-əl /

1. A polygon that has four sides, such as a rectangle or rhombus.

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Other Word Forms

• quadrilaterally
  adverb
• quadrilateralness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of quadrilateral

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin quadrilater(us) “four-sided” + -al ¹; equivalent to quadri- + lateral

Explanation

A quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon, like a square, rectangle, or rhombus. The computer screen you are looking at right now is probably in the shape of a quadrilateral. The quadrilateral is a shape you'll learn about in geometry. Quadrilaterals include more than one type of shape, but all quadrilaterals have four sides. The most common type of quadrilateral is the square, but rectangles and rhombuses are quadrilaterals too. Quadrilaterals are also called quadrangles and tetragons. When you see the word quadrilateral, think "four sides".

Example Sentences

“At that point in my life, golf was absolutely everything to me,” he recently told Geoff Shackelford’s Quadrilateral sub stack.

From BBC • May 13, 2024

It was Shinzo Abe who in 2007 became the first major leader to formally propose the so-called Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a loose alliance comprising the U.S.,

From Washington Times • Jul. 6, 2023

Kirby pointed out Biden will meet with the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — or the Quad alliance — on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2023

Biden administration officials often hold up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or “the Quad,” as an example of their Indo-Pacific strategy taking hold.

From Washington Post • Feb. 20, 2023

Attack by 71st Infantry Brigade on Quadrilateral unsuccessful -- renewed in evening but only partially successful.

From A Short History of the 6th Division Aug. 1914-March 1919 by Marden, Thomas Owen, Sir