Parallelepiped: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is primarily used in mathematics and geometry to describe a three-dimensional figure where each face is a parallelogram. It is more formal and technical.

• In our geometry class, we learned how to calculate the volume of a parallelepiped.
• The crystal structure resembled a distorted parallelepiped.

This term is used in mathematics to describe a four-sided figure with opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length. It is strictly a two-dimensional shape.

• The base of the parallelogram is 10 cm long.
• We learned how to find the area of a parallelogram in our math class.

This word is commonly used in everyday language and basic geometry to describe a three-dimensional rectangle or box shape. It is simpler and more accessible than 'parallelepiped'.

• A matchbox has the shape of a cuboid.
• They packed all the books into a large cuboid container.

This term is used in both everyday language and mathematics to describe a three-dimensional shape with six rectangular faces. It is similar to 'cuboid' but is often used in educational contexts.

• The aquarium has the shape of a rectangular prism.
• We need to calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism for our homework.