angle

¹

[ ang-guhl ]

noun

1. Geometry.
   1. the space within two lines or three or more planes diverging from a common point, or within two planes diverging from a common line.
   2. the figure so formed.
   3. the amount of rotation needed to bring one line or plane into coincidence with another, generally measured in radians or in degrees, minutes, and seconds, as in 12° 10prime; 30″, which is read as 12 degrees, 10 minutes, and 30 seconds.
2. an angular projection; a projecting corner:

   the angles of a building.

3. a viewpoint; standpoint:

   He looked at the problem only from his own angle.

4. Journalism.
   1. slant ( def 11 ).
   2. the point of view from which copy is written, especially when the copy is intended to interest a particular audience:

      The financial editor added a supplementary article from the investor's angle.

5. one aspect of an event, problem, subject, etc.:

   The accountant emphasized the tax angle of the leasing arrangement.

6. Movies, Photography. angle shot.
7. Informal. a secret motive:

   She's been too friendly lately—what's her angle?

8. Astrology. any of the four interceptions of the equatorial circle by the two basic axes, the horizon and the meridian: commonly identified by the compass directions.
9. angle iron ( def 2 ).

verb (used with object)

, an·gled, an·gling.

1. to move or bend in an angle.
2. to set, fix, direct, or adjust at an angle:

   to angle a spotlight.

3. Journalism. to write or edit in such a way as to appeal to a particular audience; slant:

   She angled her column toward teenagers.

verb (used without object)

, an·gled, an·gling.

1. to turn sharply in a different direction:

   The road angles to the right.

2. to move or go in angles or at an angle:

   The trout angled downstream.

angle

²

[ ang-guhl ]

verb (used without object)

, an·gled, an·gling.

1. to fish with hook and line.
2. to attempt to get something by sly or artful means; fish:

   to angle for a compliment.

noun

1. Archaic. a fishhook or fishing tackle.

Angle

³

[ ang-guhl ]

noun

1. a member of a West Germanic people that migrated from Schleswig to Britain in the 5th century a.d. and founded the kingdoms of East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria. As early as the 6th century their name was extended to all the Germanic inhabitants of Britain.

Angle

¹

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

noun

1. a member of a West Germanic people from N Germany who invaded and settled large parts of E and N England in the 5th and 6th centuries a.d

angle

²

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

noun

1. the space between two straight lines that diverge from a common point or between two planes that extend from a common line
2. the shape formed by two such lines or planes
3. the extent to which one such line or plane diverges from another, measured in degrees or radians
4. an angular projection or recess; corner
5. standpoint; point of view

   the angle of a newspaper article

   look at the question from another angle

6. informal.
   a selfish or devious motive or purpose
7. See angle iron

verb

1. to move in or bend into angles or an angle
2. tr to produce (an article, statement, etc) with a particular point of view
3. tr to present, direct, or place at an angle
4. intr to turn or bend in a different direction

   the path angled sharply to the left

angle

³

/ ˈæŋɡəl /

verb

1. to fish with a hook and line
2. often foll by for to attempt to get

   he angled for a compliment

noun

1. obsolete.
   any piece of fishing tackle, esp a hook

angle

/ ăng′gəl /

1. A geometric figure formed by two lines that begin at a common point or by two planes that begin at a common line.
2. The space between such lines or planes, measured in degrees.
3. See also acute angle

Word History and Origins

Origin of angle¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin angulus, akin to uncus “bent” and Greek ankýlos “crooked, curved”; ancylo- ( def ),

Origin of angle²

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun angel, angle, angul, Old English angel, angul; cognate with Frisian, Dutch angel, Old Saxon, Old High German angul, German Angel, Old Norse ǫngull; Greek ankýlos “bent, curved,” Sanskrit aṅkuśá- “hook, fishhook”; akin to Old English anga “a sting,” Old High German ango, Latin uncus “hook, barb,” Greek ónkos “hook, barb of an arrow”; the verb is derivative of the noun; relation, if any, to Latin angulus angle ¹ not clear

Origin of angle³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin Anglus (plural Anglī ) source of Old English Engle (plural) “the English,” variant of Engle, the name of a tribe that lived in modern-day Angeln (so named from its shape), in Schleswig; akin to angle ¹; English ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of angle¹

from Latin Anglus, from Germanic (compare English ), an inhabitant of Angul, a district in Schleswig (now Angeln ), a name identical with Old English angul hook, angle ², referring to its shape

Origin of angle²

C14: from French, from Old Latin angulus corner

Origin of angle³

Old English angul fish-hook; related to Old High German ango, Latin uncus, Greek onkos

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play the angles, Slang. to use every available means to reach one's goal:

   A second-rate talent can survive only by playing all the angles.

Example Sentences

On Monday afternoon, however, the adrenaline thrill came to a screeching halt when the Sol Spin stopped mid-motion, leaving riders suspended at multiple different angles.

From Los Angeles Times

"Massive relief to see some light coming though. Thanks for all the good vibes coming in from all angles," Mr Douglas continued in the post to McCall's 1.9 million followers.

From BBC

Can our angles, can our timing be right?

From BBC

They were grainy, but gave Earthlings a glimpse at the Moon from a different angle.

From BBC

In this form of investigation, x-rays are directed at the object of interest and the angles at which the rays are diffracted tell the researchers the object's arrangement of atoms.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• aspect
• direction
• perspective
• point of view
• slant
• standpoint
• viewpoint