angle

noun

(geometry) A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle).

(geometry) The measure of such a figure. In the case of a plane angle, this is the ratio (or proportional to the ratio) of the arc length to the radius of a section of a circle cut by the two rays, centered at their common point. In the case of a solid angle, this is the ratio of the surface area to the square of the radius of the section of a sphere.

A corner where two walls intersect.

A change in direction.

A viewpoint; a way of looking at something.

(media) The focus of a news story.

Any of various hesperiid butterflies.

(slang, professional wrestling) A storyline between two wrestlers, providing the background for and approach to a feud.

(slang) An ulterior motive; a scheme or means of benefiting from a situation, usually hidden, often immoral.

A projecting or sharp corner; an angular fragment.

(astrology) Any of the four cardinal points of an astrological chart: the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Descendant and the Imum Coeli.

A fishhook; tackle for catching fish, consisting of a line, hook, and bait, with or without a rod.

(historical) A member of a Germanic tribe first mentioned by Tacitus, one of several which invaded Britain and merged to become the Anglo-Saxons; an Anglian.

verb

(transitive, often in the passive) To place (something) at an angle.

(intransitive, informal) To change direction rapidly.

(transitive, informal) To present or argue something in a particular way or from a particular viewpoint.

(transitive, billiards) To hamper (oneself or one's opponent) by leaving the cue ball in the jaws of a pocket such that the surround of the pocket (the "angle") blocks the path from cue ball to object ball.

(intransitive) To try to catch fish with a hook and line.

(figurative, informal, with for) To attempt to subtly persuade someone to offer a desired thing.

Roots

angulusangle- · Latin · corner, angle

Synonyms for angle

slantn viewpointn cornern deflectionn obliqueadj doglegn perspectiven standpointn

Synonyms & related words for angle

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of angle — including slant, viewpoint, corner, deflection, oblique, dogleg. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to angle

Explore words related to angle — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include multiangular, tilt, atilt, heptangular, octangle, perigon, angulate, angulation. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for angle

Common synonyms for angle include slant, viewpoint, corner, deflection, oblique, dogleg, perspective, standpoint — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does angle come from?

The word angle breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root angle-, from Latin angulus (“corner, angle”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.