solid angle

noun Geometry.

an angle formed by three or more planes intersecting in a common point or formed at the vertex of a cone.

Origin of solid angle

First recorded in 1695–1705

Words nearby solid angle

solicitor, solicitor general, solicitous, solicitude, solid, solid angle, solid fuel, solid geometry, solid injection, solid of revolution, solid propellant

British Dictionary definitions for solid angle

solid angle

noun

a geometric surface consisting of lines originating from a common point (the vertex) and passing through a closed curve or polygon: measured in steradians

Scientific definitions for solid angle

solid angle

A three-dimensional angle, formed by three or more planes intersecting at a common point. Its magnitude is measured in steradians, a unitless measure. The corner of a room forms a solid angle, as does the apex of a cone; one can imagine an indefinite number of planes forming the smooth round surface of the cone all intersecting at the apex. Solid angles are commonly used in photometry.