1565-75; earlier hypotenusa < Latinhypotēnūsa < Greekhypoteínousa (grámmē) subtending (line) (feminine present participle of hypoteínein to subtend), equivalent to hypo-hypo- + tein- stretch (see thin) + -ousa feminine present participle suffix
Examples from the web for hypotenuse
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is not always the shortest distance between the two points that define it.
The square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Find the areas of the squares on the legs and on the hypotenuse.
Ask a participant to construct a square on each leg and then on the hypotenuse of the triangle.
The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle.
Students were shown a right triangle with a given length of the base and size of the angle between the base and the hypotenuse.
Remember that a and b are the legs of the right triangle and c is the hypotenuse.
The sighting distances were calculated from the hypotenuse angles post-flight.
British Dictionary definitions for hypotenuse
hypotenuse
/haɪˈpɒtɪˌnjuːz/
noun
1.
the side in a right-angled triangle that is opposite the right angle hyp
Word Origin
C16: from Latin hypotēnūsa, from Greek hupoteinousa grammē subtending line, from hupoteinein to subtend, from hypo- + teinein to stretch
Word Origin and History for hypotenuse
n.
1570s, from Late Latin hypotenusa, from Greek hypoteinousa "stretching under" (the right angle), fem. present participle of hypoteinein, from hypo- "under" (see sub-) + teinein "to stretch" (see tenet). Formerly often erroneously hypothenuse.
hypotenuse in Science
hypotenuse
(hī-pŏt'n-s') The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle. It is the longest side, and the square of its length is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.