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Polygon: meaning, definitions and examples

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polygon

 

[ ˈpɒl.ɪ.ɡɒn ]

Noun
Shapes
Context #1 | Noun

geometry shape

A polygon is a two-dimensional geometric figure that is formed by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain or circuit. The segments of a polygon are called its sides or edges, and the points where the edges meet are the polygon's vertices or corners.

Synonyms

figure, plane figure, shape

Examples of usage

  • The triangle is the simplest polygon.
  • He calculated the area of the pentagon.
  • In geometry class, we learned about various types of polygons.
  • A hexagon has six sides and six angles.

Translations

Translations of the word "polygon" in other languages:

🇵🇹 polígono

🇮🇳 बहुभुज

🇩🇪 Polygon

🇮🇩 poligon

🇺🇦 многокутник

🇵🇱 wielokąt

🇯🇵 多角形

🇫🇷 polygone

🇪🇸 polígono

🇹🇷 çokgen

🇰🇷 다각형

🇸🇦 مضلع

🇨🇿 polygon

🇸🇰 mnohouholník

🇨🇳 多边形

🇸🇮 poligon

🇮🇸 margtáng

🇰🇿 көпбұрыш

🇬🇪 ბహუშკონტური

🇦🇿 çoxbucaq

🇲🇽 polígono

Etymology

The term 'polygon' comes from the Greek words 'poly', meaning 'many', and 'gonia', meaning 'angle'. This etymology reflects the characteristic feature of polygons—they consist of multiple sides and angles. The use of the term dates back to ancient Greek mathematicians, such as Euclid, who systematically studied shapes and their properties in his work 'Elements'. In classical geometry, polygons were categorized based on the number of sides they possess, leading to names like triangle (3 sides), square (4 sides), pentagon (5 sides), and so forth. The study of polygons is fundamental in various fields, including mathematics, art, and architecture, where principles of symmetry, tessellation, and spatial reasoning find significant applications.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,636, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.