dia
me
ter
Plural
diameters
1
a straight line from one side of a round object, particularly a circle, passing through the center and joining the other side
- The diameter of a circle is the longest distance between any two points on its circumference, passing through the center.
- To calculate the circumference of a circle, you need to know its diameter and use the formula π × diameter.
- The engineer measured the diameter of the pipe to ensure it would fit snugly within the existing framework.
- In astronomy, the diameter of celestial bodies such as planets and stars provides crucial information about their size.
- The technician used a caliper to determine the diameter of the bearings needed for the machinery repair.
Synonyms:
2
a unit of linear measurement used to express magnifying power
- The microscope had a diameter of 100×.
- Telescopes are often rated in diameters.
- Optical instruments list the diameter for comparison.
- The magnifier had a diameter suitable for reading fine print.
- Engineers specified the lens diameter for the experiment.