diameter

Diameter is defined as the length of a straight line through the center of a circle.

(noun)

An example of a diameter is the length of a line sliced down the center of a pie.

See diameter in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a line segment passing through the center of a circle, sphere, etc. from one side to the other
the length of such a segment; width or thickness of a circular, or somewhat circular, figure or object
Optics the unit of measure of the magnifying power of a lens

Origin: ME & OFr diametre < ML diametra < L diametrus < Gr diametros < dia-, through + metron, a measure: see meter

See diameter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Abbr. d or diam. Mathematics
a. A straight line segment passing through the center of a figure, especially of a circle or sphere, and terminating at the periphery.
b. The length of such a segment.
Thickness or width.
A unit for measuring the magnifying power of a microscope lens or telescope, equal to the number of times an object's linear dimensions are apparently increased.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English diametre

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin diametrus

Origin: , from Greek diametros (grammē), diagonal (line)

Origin: : dia-, dia-

Origin: + metron, measure; see mē-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: