ˌpə:pənˈdɪkjulə adj. & n. --adj. 1 a at
right angles to
the plane of the
horizon. b (usu. foll. by to) Geom. at right angles (to a
given line, plane, or surface). 2
upright,
vertical. 3 (of a
slope etc.)
very steep. 4 (Perpendicular) Archit. of the
third stage of
English Gothic (15th-16th c.)
with vertical
tracery in
large windows. 5 joc. in a
standing position. --n. 1 a perpendicular line. 2 a plumb-rule or a
similar instrument. 3 (prec. by the) a perpendicular line or
direction (is
out of the perpendicular). øøperpendicularity n. perpendicularly adv. [ME f. L perpendicularis f. perpendiculum plumb-line f. PER+ pendere hang]