trapezium

noun

tra·​pe·​zi·​um trə-ˈpē-zē-əm 

tra-

plural trapeziums or trapezia trə-ˈpē-zē-ə 

tra-

1

a

: a quadrilateral with no parallel sides

b

British : trapezoid sense 1a

2

: a bone in the wrist at the base of the metacarpal of the thumb

Examples of trapezium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 18-karat yellow gold brooch actually draws inspiration from Oppenheimer, and features eight concentric trapeziums—the shape found within the interior components of an atomic bomb. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

Also clearly visible at the heart of the Orion Nebula is the trapezium cluster of young massive stars that shape the cloud of dust and gas with their intense ultraviolet radiation, according to the news release. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022

Every Friday night in towns and cities across Britain, neon trapeziums lure drunken men to gorge on greasy meat shaved from an elephant’s leg. —1843, 10 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek trapezion, literally, small table, diminutive of trapeza table, from tra- four (akin to tettares four) + peza foot; akin to Greek pod-, pous foot — more at four, foot

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

trapezium

noun

tra·​pe·​zi·​um trə-ˈpē-zē-əm, tra- 

plural trapeziums or trapezia -zē-ə 

: a bone in the distal row of the carpus at the base of the thumb

called also greater multangular