trapezium

[ truh-pee-zee-uh m ]
/ trəˈpi zi əm /

noun, plural tra·pe·zi·ums, tra·pe·zi·a [truh-pee-zee-uh] /trəˈpi zi ə/.

Geometry.
  1. (in Euclidean geometry) any rectilinear quadrilateral plane figure not a parallelogram.
  2. a quadrilateral plane figure of which no two sides are parallel.
  3. British. trapezoid(def 1a).
Anatomy. a bone in the wrist that articulates with the metacarpal bone of the thumb.

Origin of trapezium

1545–55; < New Latin < Greek trapézion kind of quadrilateral, literally, small table, equivalent to trápez(a) table (shortening of *tetrapeza object having four feet, equivalent to tetra- four + péza foot, akin to poús, podós; see tetra-, foot) + -ion diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM trapezium

tra·pe·zi·al, adjective

Words nearby trapezium

trapes, trapeze, trapeze artist, trapezial, trapeziform, trapezium, trapezius, trapezohedron, trapezoid, trapezoid ligament, trapezoid line

British Dictionary definitions for trapezial

trapezium
/ (trəˈpiːzɪəm) /

noun plural -ziums or -zia (-zɪə)

mainly British a quadrilateral having two parallel sides of unequal length Usual US and Canadian name: trapezoid
mainly US and Canadian a quadrilateral having neither pair of sides parallel
a small bone of the wrist near the base of the thumb

Derived forms of trapezium

trapezial, adjective

Word Origin for trapezium

C16: via Late Latin from Greek trapezion, from trapeza table

Medical definitions for trapezial (1 of 2)

trapezial
[ trə-pē′zē-əl ]

adj.

Relating to a trapezium or to the trapezius muscle.

Medical definitions for trapezial (2 of 2)

trapezium
[ trə-pē′zē-əm ]

n. pl. tra•pe•zi•ums

A quadrilateral having no parallel sides.
A bone in the wrist at the base of the thumb, articulating with the first and second metacarpal, scaphoid, and trapezoid bones.

Scientific definitions for trapezial

trapezium
[ trə-pē′zē-əm ]

Plural trapeziums trapezia

A four-sided plane figure having no parallel sides.