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

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

The ideal presentation is the cephalic or vertex position. —Brandi Jones, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2024

The presenting part, which is the part of the baby's body that is born first in a vaginal delivery, is usually the baby's head (known as vertex presentation). —Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 25 July 2024

Their challenge was to extract an independent set using a large portion of vertices in the original graph. —Quanta Magazine, 30 Apr. 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