Rhombus
/ˈɹɑːmbəs/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A parallelogram having all sides of equal length.
- 2 a parallelogram with four equal sides; an oblique-angled equilateral parallelogram wordnet
- 3 A parallelogram having all sides of equal length.; The rhombus diamond, as one of the suits seen in a deck of playing cards ( or ).
- 4 In early Greek religion, an instrument whirled on the end of a string similar to a bullroarer.
"The Greeks also used an instrument called a rhombus, or witches' wheel. As the wheel spun round, it was thought that influence was gained over certain people or circumstances."
- 5 Any of several flatfishes, including the brill and turbot, once considered part of the genus Rhombus, now in Scophthalmus. archaic
"the greedy Tuberon or Shark arm'd with a double row of venemous teeth pursues them, directed by a little Rhombus, Musculus or pilot-fish that scuds to and fro to bring intelligence [...]."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Snails, now in genus Conus or family Conidae. archaic
Example
More examples"A square is both a rectangle and a rhombus."
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin rhombus, from Ancient Greek ῥόμβος (rhómbos, “rhombus, spinning top”). Doublet of rhomb and rhumb.