vertical

[vur-ti-kuhl]

adjective

1. being in a position or direction perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb.

   Antonyms: horizontal

2. of, relating to, or situated at the vertex.

3. of or relating to the cranial vertex.

4. Botany.

   1. (of a leaf ) having the blade in a perpendicular plane, so that neither of the surfaces can be called upper or lower.

   2. being in the same direction as the axis; lengthwise.

5. of, constituting, or resulting in vertical combination.

6. of or relating to a product or service from initial planning to sale.

7. of, relating to, or noting a stratified society, nation, etc.

noun

1. something vertical, as a line or plane.

2. a vertical or upright position.

3. a vertical structural member in a truss.

vertical

/ ˌvɜːtɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈvɜːtɪkəl /

adjective

1. at right angles to the horizon; perpendicular; upright Compare horizontal

   a vertical wall

2. extending in a perpendicular direction

3. at or in the vertex or zenith; directly overhead

4. economics of or relating to associated or consecutive, though not identical, stages of industrial activity

   vertical integration

   vertical amalgamation

5. of or relating to the vertex

6. anatomy of, relating to, or situated at the top of the head (vertex)

noun

1. a vertical plane, position, or line

2. a vertical post, pillar, or other structural member

Other Word Forms

• verticality noun
• verticalness noun
• verticalism noun
• vertically adverb
• nonvertical adjective
• nonvertically adverb
• nonverticalness noun
• nonverticality noun
• subvertical adjective
• subvertically adverb
• subverticalness noun
• unvertical adjective
• unvertically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of vertical¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin verticālis, equivalent to vertic- (stem of vertex ) vertex + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vertical¹

C16: from Late Latin verticālis, from Latin _vertex

Synonym Study

See upright.

Example Sentences

An Alaskan climbing influencer has died after falling from El Capitan, a famous vertical rock formation in California's Yosemite National Park.

From BBC

The new frame will have four entrance points, all of which are vertical, meaning Dakota had "no chance" of being able to get up them, even with support, her family said.

From BBC

Chicken smothered in it is heaven for those raised on the comfort-food staple — or those who just crushed several vertical miles.

From Los Angeles Times

Such frames are made up of horizontal beams and vertical columns, and feature a largely rectangular skeleton.

From Los Angeles Times

Her frantic run down to the tree line, which covered several miles and about 2,000 vertical feet, took at least an hour.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• perpendicular 
• steep