orthogonal

adjective

or·​thog·​o·​nal ȯr-ˈthä-gə-nᵊl How to pronounce orthogonal (audio)
1
a
: intersecting or lying at right angles
In orthogonal cutting, the cutting edge is perpendicular to the direction of tool travel.
b
: having perpendicular slopes or tangents at the point of intersection
orthogonal curves
2
: having a sum of products or an integral (see integral entry 1 sense 1b) that is zero or sometimes one under specified conditions: such as
a
of real-valued functions : having the integral of the product of each pair of functions over a specific interval equal to zero
b
of vectors : having the scalar product equal to zero
c
of a square matrix : having the sum of products of corresponding elements in any two rows or any two columns equal to one if the rows or columns are the same and equal to zero otherwise : having a transpose with which the product equals the identity matrix
3
of a linear transformation : having a matrix (see matrix sense 5a) that is orthogonal : preserving length and distance
4
: composed of mutually orthogonal elements
an orthogonal basis of a vector space
5
: statistically independent
mental ability may be classified into several orthogonal … factorsO. D. Duncan
6
: orthographic sense 1
orthogonal projection
orthogonality noun
orthogonally adverb

Examples of orthogonal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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At least 7 precious and base metal rich quartz-sulphide veins were identified with orientations orthogonal to the Baker A- and B-Veins, suggesting the mineralization may be related, but not directly to the historical Baker Mine. Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024 That limits the system’s ability to generate images in 3D, which is necessary in advanced diagnostics, such as determining bladder volume or looking at simultaneous orthogonal views of the heart. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024 The two figures—the uneasily Americanized Jew and the fervently ideological Zionist—glance off each other, bound in orthogonal directions. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 The scientists then tweaked the mutation rate of the orthogonal DNA-replicating enzyme, eventually enhancing it 1,000-fold. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for orthogonal 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin orthogonius, from Greek orthogōnios, from orth- + gōnia angle — more at -gon

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of orthogonal was circa 1560

Dictionary Entries Near orthogonal

Cite this Entry

“Orthogonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orthogonal. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

orthogonal

adjective
or·​thog·​o·​nal ȯr-ˈthäg-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce orthogonal (audio)
1
a
: lying or intersecting at right angles
b
: being, using, or made with three ECG leads whose axes are perpendicular to each other and to the frontal, horizontal, and sagittal axes of the body
the three orthogonal leads were recorded simultaneously on magnetic tapeMassoud Nemati et al.
2
: statistically independent
mental ability may be classified into several orthogonal … factorsO. D. Duncan

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