rectangle

[ rek-tang-guhl ]

noun

1. a parallelogram having four right angles.

rectangle

/ ˈrɛkˌtæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a parallelogram having four right angles Compare rhombus

rectangle

/ rĕk′tăng′gəl /

1. A four-sided plane figure with four right angles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rectangle¹

1565–75; < Medieval Latin rēctangulum, Late Latin rēctiangulum right-angled triangle (noun use of neuter of rēctiangulus having a right angle), equivalent to rēcti- recti- + angulum angle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rectangle¹

C16: from Medieval Latin rectangulum , from Latin rectus straight + angulus angle

Example Sentences

In the spirit of unplugging, here are some products that help nudge us away from our glowing rectangles—if just for a little bit.

From Outside Online

By reimagining the possible rectangles as collections of points within a special version of four-dimensional space, the pair found that all such loops contain sets of points that define rectangles of any desired proportion.

From Quanta Magazine

Starting at the long end closest to you, roll the rectangle tightly into a cylinder.

From Outside Online

Their hope was to prove that every possible rotation of the Möbius strip yielded an intersection point — which is equivalent to proving you can find rectangles with all possible aspect ratios.

From Quanta Magazine

Hugelmeyer created these addresses in a way that would turn out to be particularly useful for the overall goal of finding rectangles on a curve.

From Quanta Magazine

The heart of Wynwood is the six-block rectangle radiating from NW 2nd Avenue between 23rd and 26th Streets.

From The Daily Beast

The moist rectangle of cooked meat and molten blob of cheese are then layered in a hard roll.

From The Daily Beast

“I care only about what is on the square or rectangle in front of me,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

In the same way that square or rectangle frames separate a work of art from “reality,” our homes frame, define and separate us.

From The Daily Beast

A huge 35mm film projector, click-clacking in our midst, shines a red rectangle onto a screen.

From The Daily Beast

This rampart of dwellings was in the shape of a rectangle, and enclosed a large square or plaza containing a noble reservoir.

From Project Gutenberg

The ground plan is a simple rectangle, as shown in Figure 36, without partitions.

From Project Gutenberg

In the darkened room, the device threw a rectangle of light on the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

If two of the parallel sides of a rectangle are longer than the other two sides, as in Figure 66, it is called an oblong.

From Project Gutenberg

A few dials and a glass meter hung beneath each two yard rounded-rectangle of opaque glass.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• square