trapezoid

[trap-uh-zoid]

noun

Geometry.

a quadrilateral plane figure having two parallel and two nonparallel sides.
British.trapezium(def 1b).

Anatomy. a bone in the wrist that articulates with the metacarpal bone of the forefinger.

adjective

Also trap·e·zoi·dal. Geometry. of, relating to, or having the form of a trapezoid.

Origin of trapezoid

1695–1705; < New Latin trapezoīdēs < Late Greek trapezoeidḗs trapeziumlike. See trapezium, -oid

Related formspost·trap·e·zoid, adjectivesub·trap·e·zoid, adjectivesub·trap·e·zoi·dal, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for trapezoidal

Historical Examples of trapezoidal

The area is trapezoidal; in other words, the sides vary in length.
Vacation days in Greece
Rufus B. Richardson
A section across the middle of the implement would be trapezoidal with incurved sides.
Throwing-sticks in the National Museum
Otis T. Mason
The labrum, or upper lip, is separated by a deep suture from the clypeus, and is trapezoidal in form.
Our Common Insects
Alpheus Spring Packard
In channels of trapezoidal form the velocity increases and diminishes with the discharge.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 1
Various
They consisted of shutters stiffened with four trapezoidal trusses.
ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico
George Robert Graham Conway

British Dictionary definitions for trapezoidal

trapezoid

noun

a quadrilateral having neither pair of sides parallel

Also called: (Brit, Austral., NZ, and South African) trapezium US and Canadian a quadrilateral having two parallel sides of unequal length

a small bone of the wrist near the base of the index finger

Word Origin for trapezoid

C18: from New Latin trapezoidēs, from Late Greek trapezoeidēs trapezium-shaped, from trapeza table

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

Word Origin and History for trapezoidal

trapezoid

1706, "a trapezium," from Modern Latin trapezoides, from Late Greek trapezoeides (Proclus), special use by Euclid of Greek trapezoeides "trapezium-shaped," from trapeza, literally "table" (see trapezium), + -oeides "shaped" (see -oid). Technically, a quadrilateral figure with no two sides parallel. But in English since c.1800, often confused with trapezium in its sense of "a quadrilateral figure having only two sides parallel."

trapezoidal in Medicine

trapezoid

[trăp′ĭ-zoid′]

n.

A quadrilateral having two parallel sides.

A small bone in the wrist that is situated near the base of the index finger and that articulates with the second metacarpal, trapezium, capitate, and scaphoid bones.

Related formstrap′e•zoid′ null adj.

trapezoidal in Science

trapezoid

[trăp′ĭ-zoid′]

A four-sided plane figure having two parallel sides.

trapezoidal in Culture

trapezoid

[(trap-uh-zoyd)]

A four-sided polygon in which two sides are parallel and two are not.