adjective / noun
normal
At right angles to a line or surface, or a line in that direction.
The diagram shows a line normal to the curved surface.
Etymology
The Latin adjective refers to the carpenter's square. Its geometric sense preserves that tool's right angle, describing a perpendicular line or direction.
More examples
- Draw the normal at the point where the ray strikes.
- The force acts in the normal direction.
- Several normals were marked along the curve.
Forms
normal · normals
Similar words
- perpendicular
- The more familiar geometry term for a right-angle relationship.
- orthogonal
- A technical term, especially in mathematics.