straightedge

[streyt-ej]

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noun

a bar or strip of wood, plastic, or metal having at least one long edge of sufficiently reliable straightness for use in drawing or testing straight lines, plane surfaces, etc.

Origin of straightedge

First recorded in 1805–15; straight + edge

straight-edge

[streyt-ej]

adjective

advocating abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and sex and sometimes advocating vegetarianism.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for straightedge

yardstick, rule, measure, straightedge, T-square

Examples from the Web for straightedge

Historical Examples of straightedge

The first requisite for this is a straightedge of iron or brass, as true as possible.
The Invention of Lithography
Alois Senefelder
It is necessary also that the straightedge be applied frequently.
The Invention of Lithography
Alois Senefelder
The cutter is guided along the straightedge as shown in Fig. 1.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2
Various
The straightedge and the compasses are the only two drawing instruments recognized in elementary geometry.
The Teaching of Geometry
David Eugene Smith
In other words, the trisection of any angle, by the use of the straightedge and compasses alone, is impossible.
The Teaching of Geometry
David Eugene Smith

British Dictionary definitions for straightedge

straightedge

noun

a stiff strip of wood or metal that has one edge straight and true and is used for ruling and testing straight lines

Derived Formsstraightedged, adjective

straight-edge

adjective

informal not indulging in any kind of drug-taking or sexual activities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012