right angle

noun

1. the angle formed by two radii of a circle that are drawn to the extremities of an arc equal to one quarter of the circle; the angle formed by two perpendicular lines that intersect; an angle of 90°.

right angle

noun

1. the angle between two radii of a circle that cut off on the circumference an arc equal in length to one quarter of the circumference; an angle of 90° or π/2 radians

2. perpendicular or perpendicularly

right angle

1. An angle having a measure of 90°.

right angle

1. An angle measuring ninety degrees, formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines. (Compare acute angle and obtuse angle.)

Other Word Forms

• right-angled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of right angle¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400