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Webster 1913 Edition


Cathetus


Cath′e-tus

,
Noun.
;
pl.
catheti
(#)
.
[L., fr. Gr. [GREEK] a perpendicular line, fr. [GREEK] let down, fr. [GREEK]. See
Catheter
.]
(Geom.)
One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another;
as, the
catheti
of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle
.
Barlow.

Webster 1828 Edition


Cathetus

CATHETUS

n. In geometry, a line or radius, falling perpendicularly on another line or surface; as the two sides of a right-angled triangle.
Cathetus of incidence, in catoptries, is a right line drawn from a point of the object, perpendicular to the reflecting line.
Cathetus of reflection, or of the eye, a right line drawn from the eye perpendicular to the reflecting plane.
Cathetus of obliquation, a right line drawn perpendicular to the speculum, in the point of incidence or reflection.
In architecture, a cathetus is a perpendicular line, supposed to pass through the middle of a cylindrical body.

Definition 2024


cathetus

cathetus

English

Noun

cathetus (plural catheti)

  1. (geometry) A line perpendicular to a surface (or line); in particular, either of the sides of a right triangle other than its hypotenuse.

Synonyms

  • (side of a right triangle): leg

Translations

References