hexagon
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɛksəɡən/
US
- /ˈhɛksəˌɡɑn/
Description
- six-sided shape
- six-angle figure
- honeycomb cell
Picture a flat shape with six sides and six angles. That is the basic idea. Many people first think of a honeycomb, because each cell is shaped this way. You can also use the word for objects that have this shape, such as a nut on a bolt or a floor tile.
This shape appears often in nature and design because it fits together neatly without leaving gaps. In simple geometry, people also talk about a regular one, where all six sides and all six angles are equal.
A hexagon is a closed shape with six straight sides and six angles. In geometry, it is a type of polygon. A regular hexagon has all sides and angles equal, but many hexagons in real life are irregular, which means the sides or angles are not all the same.
This shape is easy to notice once you start looking for it. The cells in a honeycomb are a famous example. You can also see it in some floor tiles, nuts and bolts, game pieces, and patterns in nature. People often connect this shape with strength and efficiency because it can fit tightly with others of the same kind without leaving empty spaces.
The word usually names the shape itself, but it can also describe something that has this form. For example, a hexagonal nut has six flat sides, which makes it easier to grip with a tool. In science and nature, the shape also appears in places like some crystal patterns and rock formations.
So when someone uses the word "hexagon," they are talking about something with six sides, whether it is a shape on paper, part of a building pattern, or an object you can hold in your hand.
Examples
- 1
Game board
The game board is made of small hexagons instead of squares.
- 2
Geometry
In math class, we had to draw a regular hexagon with a ruler and compass.
Domain
in geometry, a regular hexagon has all sides and angles equal
- 3
Nature
Bees build their honeycomb from tiny hexagons.
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hexagonnoun
Forms
- hexagonspluralnoun