vertex

noun

ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks How to pronounce vertex (audio)
plural vertices ˈvər-tə-ˌsēz How to pronounce vertex (audio) 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 For instance, a graph in which every vertex is connected to every other vertex is called a complete graph, and the chromatic number of a complete graph with n vertices is n. Quanta Magazine, 29 Mar. 2023 Some objects in the game are detailed beyond reason, with no lower-detail versions offered, like clothespins (25,000 vertices each), a pile of logs (100,000), and a parking attendant booth (40,000, including cables connecting the mouse and keyboard). Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2023 The algorithm examines each body as a shape fashioned from vertices—the points that plot out a 3D model’s mesh or skeleton rig, for instance. IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2023 If there are two vertices, they must be connected, making a two-vertex star. Patrick Honner, Quanta Magazine, 21 July 2023 The first was the average number of vertices, or corners, per polygon. Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 21 June 2023 The algorithm’s goal, then, is to determine the most energy-efficient way that set of vertices can rotate or translate. IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2023 Deneb is apparently the faintest of the stellar triangle vertices, but don’t be fooled. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 July 2023 Imagine gluing six equilateral triangles together around one vertex. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vertex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vertex was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vertex

Cite this Entry

“Vertex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertex. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vertex

noun
ver·​tex ˈvər-ˌteks How to pronounce vertex (audio)
plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz How to pronounce vertex (audio) 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 How to pronounce vertex (audio)
plural vertices ˈvərt-ə-ˌsēz How to pronounce vertex (audio) also vertexes
1
: the top of the head
2
: the highest point of the skull
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