vertex
vertex Lexical Profile
vertex Game Scores & Validity
• noun
In geometry and graph theory, a point where two or more lines, curves, or edges meet to form an angle or the corner of a polygon or polyhedron.
"A standard cube consists of six square faces, twelve edges, and eight vertices."
The highest point, top, or pinnacle of something.
"Winning the international fellowship marked the vertex of her academic career."
In anatomy, the highest point of the head, corresponding to the upper surface of the skull.
"The physician gently palpated the vertex of the infant's skull during the routine examination."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'vertex' (a highest point or geometric corner) with 'vortex' (a whirling mass of fluid or air), which shares the same Latin root. In mathematics and formal writing, the Latin plural 'vertices' is strongly preferred over 'vertexes'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Latin 'vertex' ('whirlpool, crown of the head, or summit'), a variant of 'vortex', derived from the verb 'vertere' meaning 'to turn'.