Definify.com
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 angleBarlow.
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)
- (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
either of the sides of a right triangle other than its hypotenuse
References
- Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)