WordGarden.iotrapezoidal
C2Pronunciation
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US
Meanings
Adjective
having the shape of a trapezoid
Beyond the definition
Imagine a desk seen from the front, or a flower pot that is wider at the top than at the bottom: that is often called a trapezoidal shape. In simple terms, it describes something shaped like a four-sided figure with one pair of opposite sides running parallel. It can look a bit like a triangle with the top cut off flat. You might notice this shape in buildings, rooflines, bags, tables, or containers. Outside math class, "trapezoidal" is also used in a looser way for things that clearly resemble this shape, even if they are not perfectly exact.
The word "trapezoidal" describes something that has the shape of a trapezoid, a four-sided figure. In many classrooms and dictionaries, this means a shape with one pair of opposite sides that are parallel. Parallel lines are like railroad tracks: they run alongside each other and do not meet. In that common picture, the parallel sides are called the bases, and the other two sides are not parallel.
While often encountered in geometry class, "trapezoidal" is not limited to textbooks. Architects and designers use trapezoidal forms for both visual style and practical structure. You may see them in rooflines, windows, table bases, handbags, flower pots, or other objects that are narrower on one side and wider on the other. The word is often used for things that match the general outline, even when they are not mathematically perfect.
There is also some regional variation in the exact geometry terms. In British English, "trapezium" is usually the word for the shape that North American English commonly calls a "trapezoid." Because of that, the adjective "trapezoidal" is usually understood from context, but exact definitions can depend on where the speaker learned geometry. Whether you are studying shapes in class or describing the outline of a real object, "trapezoidal" helps you name a clear, recognizable four-sided form.
Examples
- 1
Architecture
The architect chose trapezoidal windows for the front of the building.
- 2
Land shape
From above, the small field looks trapezoidal because one side follows the river.
- 3
Product design
The speaker has a trapezoidal base, so it fits neatly into the corner.
See also
Similar
- trapezoid-shaped
- trapeziform
Shades of meaning
- wedge-shaped
- tapered
Contrast
Do not confuse
- trapezium
Used with (collocations)
- trapezoidal shape
- trapezoidal prism
- trapezoidal rule
Word family
Explore
- quadrilateral
- isosceles trapezoid
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- trapezoidaladjective