angle

Noun

angle (plural angles)

2. (geometry) A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle).

   the angle between lines A and B

4. (geometry) The measure of such a figure. In the case of a plane angle, this is the ratio (or proportional to the ratio) of the arc length to the radius of a section of a circle cut by the two rays, centered at their common point. In the case of a solid angle, this is the ratio of the surface area to the square of the radius of the section of a sphere.

   The angle between lines A and B is π/4 radians, or 45 degrees.

   • 2013 July-August, Fenella Saunders, “Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture”, in American Scientist:

     The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.

5. A corner where two walls intersect.

   an angle of a building

6. A change in direction.

   The horse took off at an angle.

8. A viewpoint; a way of looking at something.
   • 2013 January, Katie L. Burke, “Ecological Dependency”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, page 64:

     In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.”

   • 2005, Adams Media, Adams Job Interview Almanac, page 299:

     For example, if I was trying to repitch an idea to a producer who had already turned it down, I would say something like, "I remember you said you didn't like my idea because there was no women's angle. Well, here's a great one that both of us must have missed during our first conversation."

9. (media) The focus of a news story.
10. Any of various hesperiid butterflies.
11. (slang, professional wrestling) A storyline between two wrestlers, providing the background for and approach to a feud.
12. (slang) An ulterior motive; a scheme or means of benefitting from a situation, usually hidden, often immoral

    His angle is that he gets a percentage, but mostly in trade.

13. A projecting or sharp corner; an angular fragment.
    • 1717, John Dryden [et al.], “(please specify |book=I to XV)”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

      though but an angle reached him of the stone

14. (astrology) Any of the four cardinal points of an astrological chart: the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Descendant and the Imum Coeli.

Verb

angle (third-person singular simple present angles, present participle angling, simple past and past participle angled)

1. (transitive, often in the passive) To place (something) at an angle.

   The roof is angled at 15 degrees.

2. (intransitive, informal) To change direction rapidly.

   The five ball angled off the nine ball but failed to reach the pocket.

3. (transitive, informal) To present or argue something in a particular way or from a particular viewpoint.

   How do you want to angle this when we talk to the client?

4. (transitive, cue sports) To hamper (oneself or one's opponent) by leaving the cue ball in the jaws of a pocket such that the surround of the pocket (the "angle") blocks the path from cue ball to object ball.

Noun

angle (plural angles)

1. A fishhook; tackle for catching fish, consisting of a line, hook, and bait, with or without a rod.
   • c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]:

     Give me mine angle: we'll to the river there.

   • 1717, Alexander Pope, Vertuminus and Pomona:

     A fisher next his trembling angle bears.

Verb

angle (third-person singular simple present angles, present participle angling, simple past and past participle angled)

1. (intransitive, figurative) To try to catch fish with a hook and line.
2. (informal, with for) To attempt to subtly persuade someone to offer a desired thing.

   He must be angling for a pay rise.

Noun

angle m (plural angles)

1. (geometry) angle (figure formed by two rays which start from a common point)
2. angle (a corner where two walls intersect)

Adjective

angle m or f (masculine and feminine plural angles)

1. Anglian (of or pertaining to the Angles)

Noun

angle m or f by sense (plural angles)

1. Angle (member of a Germanic tribe)

Related terms

Usage notes

• Inside a room, the word coin (“corner”) is more usual.

Derived terms

See also

• coin

Descendants

• Middle French: ange, angele, aingle, engle, angle, angre
  • French: ange
    • Haitian Creole: zanj
  • Norman: aunge
• Picard: anche
• Walloon: andje
• → Middle English: aungel, engel, angel, ængel, aungil, aungell, angell, angyl, angyll, angylle, awngel, enngell
  • English: angel (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: angel, aungel