GEOMETRIC TERMS

Name Symbol Definition/Description Example

point - An exact location in space A

- It is named using a capital letter (read as “point A”)
line - a straight path made up of infinitely many
points and extends infinitely on both directions A B
- It is named by choosing two points on it and
read as “line AB” ( AB ) or “line BA”
denoting the points with capital letters or using
( BA ) OR
a small letter to name the line OR naming the
line with a lower case letter line n

line segment or - A part of a line that has two endpoints

segment - It is named by its endpoints X Y
read as “line segment XY” ( XY ) or
“line segment YX” ( YX )

ray - A part of a line with one endpoint and

extends infinitely in the opposite direction E F
- It is named by its endpoint and a point on
the opposite side read as “ray EF” ( EF )

angle - Formed when two rays intersect at a A

B
common point called a vertex read as “angle ABC”
- It can be named by the three points that C
( ABC) or “angle CBA”
form it (where the vertex is always in the
( CBA)
middle); by its vertex; or by the angle itself
read as “angle B”

read as “angle x”

plane - A flat surface that extends infinitely in all read as “plane R”

directions R
- it can be named using a capital letter or
identifying at least three points on it that are X
read as “plane XYZ”
not in a straight line Z Y
parallel lines - A pair of lines that do not meet or cross;
they are equidistant or the same distance read as
at all points “line segment AB” is
parallel to line segment DE”

intersecting - A pair of lines that cross or meet at a B read as “line segment

common point E AB intersects line
lines
D segment DE”
A
perpendicular - A pair of intersecting lines that form right Q QR ST
angles read as
lines
“line segment QR is
S T perpendicular to line
R
segment ST”
polygon - A closed figure made up of 3 or more line
segments
circle - A closed figure with all points the same
distance from its center.
A
parts of a circle radius – a line segment from the center of the
circle to a point on the circle. (ex. AB )
chord – a line segment whose endpoints are on the
circle (ex. LM )
diameter – a chord that passes through the center
of the circle (ex. XY )
RS
arc – a part of the circle (ex. )
 Name Symbol Definition/Description Example

skew lines - two lines that do not intersect and are not f
parallel. They do not lie on the same plane

e
diagonal - a line segment joining any two non-
consecutive vertices inside a polygon

transversal line - a line that cuts through parallel lines that

lie on the same plane

complementary - a pair of angles whose sum measures 90

angles degrees. These angles need not be
adjacent.

supplementary - a pair of angles whose sum measures 180

angles degrees. These angles need not be
adjacent.

adjacent angles - a pair of angles that have a common side

and vertex

vertical angles - a pair of angles that have a common

vertex but no common side. These angles
are equal.

corresponding - pairs of angles that occupy the same

angles relative position at each intersection
where a straight line (transversal line)
crosses parallel lines. These angles are
equal.

alternate - a pair of angles on opposite sides of the ∠𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠𝑏

transversal line but inside the pair of are alternate
interior angles interior angles
parallel lines. These angles are equal.
∠𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑∠𝑎
are alternate
interior angles

alternate - a pair of angles on opposite sides of the ∠1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠4

transversal line but outside the pair of are alternate
exterior angles interior angles
parallel lines. These angles are equal.
∠2 𝑎𝑛𝑑∠3
are alternate
interior angles

Kinds of Angles: Kinds of Triangles

zero degree – measures exactly 0 degrees (according to angles):
acute – measures between 0 and 90 degrees acute – all acute angles
right – measures exactly 90 degrees right – has one right angle
obtuse – measures between 90 and 180 degrees obtuse – has one obtuse angle
straight – measures exactly 180 degrees
reflex – measures between 180 and 360 degrees Kinds of Quadrilaterals:
360 degree – measures exactly 360 degrees
parallelogram – a quadrilateral with two pairs of
Kinds of Triangles opposite parallel sides
(according to length of sides): rectangle – a parallelogram with 4 right angles
square - a rectangle with 4 equal sides
equilateral – all sides are equal
rhombus – a parallelogram with 4 equal sides
isosceles – two equal sides
trapezoid – a quadrilateral with one pair of opposite
scalene – no equal sides
parallel sides