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diameters

 [dahy-am-i-ter]   Origin

di·am·e·ter

   [dahy-am-i-ter]
noun
1.
Geometry.
a.
a straight line passing through the center of a circle or sphere and meeting the circumference or surface at each end.
b.
a straight line passing from side to side of any figure or body, through its center.
2.
the length of such a line.
3.
the width of a circular or cylindrical object.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English diametre < Old French < Latin diametros < Greek diámetros diagonal, diameter, equivalent to dia- dia- + -metros, derivative of métron meter1

Can be confused: circumference, diameter, radius, tangent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

diameter
late 14c., from O.Fr. diametre, from L. diametrus, from Gk. diametros "diagonal of a circle," from dia- "across, through" + metron "a measure" (see meter (2)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

diameter di·am·e·ter (dī-ām'ĭ-tər)
n.

  1. A straight line connecting two opposite points on the surface of a spherical or cylindrical body, or at the boundary of an opening or foramen, passing through the center of such body or opening.

  2. The distance measured along such a line.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
diameter   (dī-ām'ĭ-tər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A straight line segment that passes through the center of a circle or sphere from one side to the other.

  2. The length of such a line segment.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
diameter [(deye-am-uh-tuhr)]

A straight line passing through the center of a figure, especially a circle or sphere, and joining two opposite points on its circumference.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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