main diagonal

noun Mathematics.

See under diagonal(def 9).

Words nearby main diagonal

main brace, main chance, main clause, main course, main deck, main diagonal, main drag, main entry, main gauche, main idea, main line

Definition for main diagonal (2 of 2)

diagonal

[ dahy-ag-uh-nl, -ag-nl ]

/ daɪˈæg ə nl, -ˈæg nl /

adjective

Mathematics.

connecting two nonadjacent angles or vertices of a polygon or polyhedron, as a straight line.
extending from one edge of a solid figure to an opposite edge, as a plane.

having an oblique direction.

having oblique lines, ridges, markings, etc.

noun

a diagonal line or plane.

virgule.

a diagonal row, part, pattern, etc.

Manège. (of a horse at a trot) the foreleg and the hind leg, diagonally opposite, which move forward simultaneously.

diagonal cloth.

Mathematics. a set of entries in a square matrix running either from upper left to lower right (main diagonal or principal diagonal) or lower left to upper right (secondary diagonal).

Chess. one of the oblique lines of squares on a chessboard: He advanced his bishop along the open diagonal.

Origin of diagonal

1535–45; < Latin diagōnālis < Greek diagṓn(ios) from angle to angle (see dia-, -gon) + Latin -ālis -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM diagonal

di·ag·o·nal·ly, adverb non·di·ag·o·nal, adjective, noun non·di·ag·o·nal·ly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for main diagonal

diagonal

/ (daɪˈæɡənəl) /

adjective

maths connecting any two vertices that in a polygon are not adjacent and in a polyhedron are not in the same face

slanting; oblique

marked with slanting lines or patterns

noun

maths a diagonal line or plane

chess any oblique row of squares of the same colour

cloth marked or woven with slanting lines or patterns

something put, set, or drawn obliquely

another name for solidus (def. 1)

one front leg and the hind leg on the opposite side of a horse, which are on the ground together when the horse is trotting

Derived forms of diagonal

diagonally, adverb

Word Origin for diagonal

C16: from Latin diagōnālis, from Greek diagōnios, from dia- + gōnia angle

Scientific definitions for main diagonal

diagonal

[ dī-ăg′ə-nəl ]

Adjective

Connecting two nonadjacent corners in a polygon or two nonadjacent corners in a polyhedron that do not lie in the same face.

Noun

A diagonal line segment.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

main diagonal

noun Mathematics.

Words nearby main diagonal

Definition for main diagonal (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

Origin of diagonal

OTHER WORDS FROM diagonal

British Dictionary definitions for main diagonal

adjective

noun

Derived forms of diagonal

Word Origin for diagonal

Scientific definitions for main diagonal

Adjective

Noun