Octagon: meaning, definitions and examples

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octagon

 

[ ˈɒktəɡɒn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

shape, geometry

An octagon is a polygon with eight sides and eight angles. It is one of the basic geometric shapes, and the most common type of octagon is the regular octagon, where all sides and angles are equal. The term 'octagon' is derived from the Greek word 'oktagonon', which means 'eight angles'. Octagons are often used in architectural designs and traffic signs, such as stop signs, which are shaped like a regular octagon.

Synonyms

eight-sided polygon, octagonal figure

Examples of usage

  • The stop sign is an octagon.
  • He drew an octagon on the paper.
  • The park had a beautiful octagon structure.

Translations

Translations of the word "octagon" in other languages:

🇵🇹 octógono

🇮🇳 अष्टकोण

🇩🇪 Achteck

🇮🇩 oktagon

🇺🇦 вісімкутник

🇵🇱 ośmiokąt

🇯🇵 八角形

🇫🇷 octogone

🇪🇸 octágono

🇹🇷 sekizgen

🇰🇷 팔각형

🇸🇦 مُثَمَّن

🇨🇿 osmiúhelník

🇸🇰 osemnásobok

🇨🇳 八边形

🇸🇮 osmokotnik

🇮🇸 áttahorn

🇰🇿 сегізбұрыш

🇬🇪 რვკუთხედი

🇦🇿 səkkizbucaq

🇲🇽 octágono

Etymology

The word 'octagon' comes from the late Middle English period, originating from the Latin 'octagonum' and borrowed from the Greek 'oktagonon', derived from 'okto', meaning 'eight', and 'gonia', meaning 'angle'. The use of the octagon as a geometric term first appeared in texts from the Renaissance period when interest in mathematics and geometry surged. In the field of architecture, octagons were frequently employed in medieval structures, especially in the design of towers and domes. The octagon's symmetrical properties made it a favored choice for creating visually appealing structures. Its prominence continued into the modern era, where it is not only used in art and architecture but also has practical applications, such as traffic sign design, highlighting the octagon's versatility and enduring appeal.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,047, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.