diagonal

Sloping at an angle, usually about halfway between horizontal and vertical.

• The shirt has diagonal stripes.
• We crossed the field in a diagonal direction.
• Yellow diagonal markings warn drivers to keep the area clear.

Similar words: slanting, sloping

Common phrases: diagonal stripes, diagonal pattern, diagonal direction

Going from one corner of a shape to the opposite corner.

• Draw a diagonal line across the square.
• She made a diagonal cut from corner to corner.
• The diagonal measurement is longer than the side.

Common phrases: diagonal line, diagonal cut, diagonal measurement

A straight line joining two corners of a shape that are not next to each other.

• Draw a diagonal across the rectangle.
• The two diagonals meet in the middle.
• We measured the diagonal of the square.

How to use it: diagonal of something (The diagonal of this square is ten centimetres long.)

Common phrases: draw a diagonal, diagonal of something, rectangle’s diagonal