rectangular

Imagine building blocks, but not just any shape; think of one with four straight sides and four perfect corners. That is what this word describes. It is more specific than simply saying "four-sided." It means the shape has four right angles, and the opposite sides are equal in length.

You see this shape everywhere: doors, windows, books, computer screens, and many tables and buildings. A square is technically a special kind of rectangle because it also has four right angles, but in everyday English people often use this word for shapes that are not square. You might hear about a rectangular canvas, a rectangular room, or a rectangular floor plan.

The word "rectangular" describes a shape with four sides and four right angles. It is a basic idea in geometry, but we also use it all the time in everyday life. When something looks like a rectangle, this word helps us describe its form clearly and quickly. A sheet of paper, a screen, a picture frame, or a room can all be described this way.

The main difference between a rectangle and other four-sided shapes is the corners. In a rectangle, each corner is a right angle, or 90 degrees. Also, all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. A square has four equal sides, while many rectangular shapes have two longer sides and two shorter sides.

You will meet this word in math, design, architecture, and ordinary conversation. Calling a dining table rectangular tells you that it is not round or oval. A photographer might talk about a rectangular image format, and a builder might describe a rectangular space or window. The word is mostly used for real shapes and objects, and it suggests straight lines, clear corners, and an orderly form.