Cartesian coordinate

noun

1

: either of two coordinates (see coordinate entry 3 sense 1) that locate a point on a plane and measure its distance from either of two intersecting straight-line axes along a line parallel to the other axis

2

: any of three coordinates that locate a point in space and measure its distance from any of three intersecting coordinate planes measured parallel to that one of three straight-line axes that is the intersection of the other two planes

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1