Diagonal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /daɪˈæɡənÉ™l/, /daɪˈæɡnÉ™l/

Origin

From Middle French diagonal, from Latin diagōnālis, from Ancient Greek διαγώνιος (diagonios, "from angle to angle"), from διά (dia, "across") + γωνία (gonia, "angle").

Full definition of diagonal

Adjective

1. (geometry) Joining two nonadjacent vertices (of a polygon or polyhedron).
2. Having a slanted or oblique direction, lines or markings.
• 2011, January 12, Saj Chowdhury, Liverpool 2 - 1 Liverpool, The visitors' undoing was caused by a diagonal ball from the right which was nodded into the six-yard area by Ian Evatt and finished off by Campbell.
3. Pertaining to the front left and back right (or the front right and back left) legs of a quadruped.

Synonyms

• (having a slanted or oblique direction) aslant, aslope, slanted, slanting, sloped, sloping

Derived terms

• diagonally
• diagonalization

Noun

1. something arranged diagonally or obliquely
2. a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric
3. a punctuation mark used to separate related items of information
4. (geometry) a diagonal line or plane
5. (geometry) a line joining non-adjacent vertices of a polygon.

Synonyms

• (punctuation mark) /, forward slash, separatrix, slash, solidus, stroke, virgule
• (line or cut across a fabric) bias

Antonyms

• (punctuation mark) backslash