diameter

[dahy-am-i-ter] /daɪˈæm ɪ tər/
noun
1.
Geometry.
  1. a straight line passing through the center of a circle or sphere and meeting the circumference or surface at each end.
  2. 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.
Examples from the web for diameter
  • The fountain consists of 32 jets in the middle of a 60-foot-diameter circle in which 159 granite boulders are arranged.
  • At an inch and a half in diameter, it is large as buttons go.
  • The diamond itself is about 2.5 centimeters in diameter.
  • To complete the scene, Pearson anchored the grove with a 48-inch-diameter stone-and-concrete globe.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a circle at least 11 inches in diameter.
  • The asphalt connection is via wide, large-diameter tires with stubby sidewalls.
  • As far as I know the first number is the diameter and the second is the length.
  • In general, the larger the diameter of the pipe, the lower is the cost of transporting a given amount of oil.
  • Our inner 3.5″ diameter circle was a perfect fit for six snails.
  • It's the size of a hockey puck-small in diameter, plump in the middle-but juicy.
British Dictionary definitions for diameter

diameter

/daɪˈæmɪtə/
noun
1.
  1. a straight line connecting the centre of a geometric figure, esp a circle or sphere, with two points on the perimeter or surface
  2. the length of such a line
2.
the thickness of something, esp with circular cross section
Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin diametrus, variant of Latin diametros, from Greek: diameter, diagonal, from dia- + metron measure
Word Origin and History for diameter
n.

late 14c., from Old French diametre, from Latin diametrus, from Greek diametros (gramme) "diagonal of a circle," from dia- "across, through" (see dia-) + metron "a measure" (see meter (n.2)).

diameter in Medicine

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.

diameter in Science
diameter
  (dī-ām'ĭ-tər)   

  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.


diameter in Culture
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.

diameter in Technology


The diameter of a graph is the maximum value of the minimum distance between any two nodes.