Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

perimeter

 [puh-rim-i-ter]   Example Sentences Origin

pe·rim·e·ter

   [puh-rim-i-ter]
noun
1.
the border or outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure.
2.
the length of such a boundary.
3.
a line bounding or marking off an area.
4.
the outermost limits.
5.
Military. a fortified boundary that protects a troop position.
EXPAND
6.
Ophthalmology. an instrument for determining the peripheral field of vision.
COLLAPSE
Origin:
1585–95; < French périmètre < Latin perimetros (feminine) < Greek perímetron (neuter). See peri-, -meter

Related forms
pe·rim·e·ter·less, adjective
pe·rim·e·tral, per·i·met·ric  [per-uh-me-trik] , per·i·met·ri·cal, adjective
per·i·met·ri·cal·ly, adverb
pe·rim·e·try, noun

Can be confused: parameter, perimeter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To perimeter

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Perimeter is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Example Sentences
  • Much of this work involved quelling rebellions on the perimeter and keeping the ever-agitating senatorial class under control.
  • The damage could have been even worse: guards stopped the vehicle outside a perimeter fence.
  • Armed only with handmade bow and arrow they were a stealth deterent to anyone attempting to breach the perimeter of the base.
EXPAND
Collins
World English Dictionary
perimeter (pəˈrɪmɪtə)
 
—n
1.  maths
 a.  the curve or line enclosing a plane area
 b.  the length of this curve or line
2.  a.  any boundary around something, such as a field
 b.  (as modifier): a perimeter fence; a perimeter patrol
3.  a medical instrument for measuring the limits of the field of vision
 
[C16: from French périmètre, from Latin perimetros; see peri-, -meter]
 
perimetric
 
—adj
 
peri'metrical
 
—adj
 
peri'metrically
 
—adv
 
pe'rimetry
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

perimeter
1592, "line around a figure or surface," from L. perimetros, from Gk. perimetros "circumference," from peri- "around" + metron "measure" (see meter (2)). Military sense of "boundary of a defended position" is attested from 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

perimeter pe·rim·e·ter (pə-rĭm'ĭ-tər)
n.

  1. The outer limits of an area; circumference.

  2. An instrument used to measure field of vision.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
perimeter   (pə-rĭm'ĭ-tər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. The sum of the lengths of the segments that form the sides of a polygon.

  2. The total length of any closed curve, such as the circumference of a circle.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT