trapezium

[ truh-pee-zee-uhm ]

noun

, plural tra·pe·zi·ums, tra·pe·zi·a [tr, uh, -, pee, -zee-, uh].

1. 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 ).
2. Anatomy. a bone in the wrist that articulates with the metacarpal bone of the thumb.

trapezium

/ trəˈpiːzɪəm /

noun

1. a quadrilateral having two parallel sides of unequal length Usual US and Canadian nametrapezoid
2. a quadrilateral having neither pair of sides parallel
3. a small bone of the wrist near the base of the thumb

trapezium

/ trə-pē′zē-əm /

, Plural trapeziums

1. A four-sided plane figure having no parallel sides.

Derived Forms

• traˈpezial, adjective

Other Words From

• tra·pezi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trapezium¹

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; tetra-, foot ) + -ion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of trapezium¹

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

Example Sentences

The city of Tralles is built upon ground in the shape somewhat of a trapezium.

From Project Gutenberg

It was an irregular trapezium, a mass struck off from the colossal granitic prism of the Great Douvre.

From Project Gutenberg

His court must therefore have been a trapezium with its smallest side opposite to the pylon, rather than a rectangle.

From Project Gutenberg

The plan is very peculiar, forming a very irregular trapezium, no two of the sides being equal in length.

From Project Gutenberg

The Lick telescope has disclosed one or two other minute points of light associated with the Trapezium.

From Project Gutenberg