vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvər-tə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the top of the head

2

a

: the point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure

b

: a point (as of an angle, polygon, polyhedron, graph, or network) that terminates a line or curve or comprises the intersection of two or more lines or curves

c

: a point where an axis of an ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola intersects the curve itself

3

: a principal or highest point : summit

the vertex of the hill

Examples of vertex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now look at the same two vertices, but for one of them, jump up to the vertex directly above it in the top graph. —Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2024

Is there a path that will take you from the starting vertex on the bottom graph to the ending vertex on the top graph? —Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024

The third vertex is desolate Maher Island, off the coast of Antarctica. —Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024

To represent this in two dimensions, again draw an equilateral triangle, followed by a circle centered around one of the triangle’s vertices, with a radius as long as each of the triangle’s legs. —Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, top of the head, from Latin vertic-, vertex, vortic-, vortex whirl, whirlpool, top of the head, summit, from vertere to turn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the point of a figure that is opposite to and farthest from its base

the vertex of a triangle

2

: the point where the two sides of an angle meet or where three or more edges of a polyhedron (as a cube) meet

Medical Definition

vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks 

plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz  also vertexes

1

: the top of the head

2

: the highest point of the skull