Definition:Polyhedron

Definition

A polyhedron is a three-dimensional figure that is contained by polygonal faces.

Face

The faces of a polyhedron are the polygons which contain it.

Edge

The edges of a polyhedron are the sides of the polygons which constitute its faces.

Vertex

The vertices of a polyhedron are the vertices of the polygons which constitute its faces.

Also see

• Results about polyhedra can be found here.

Linguistic Note

The word polyhedron comes directly from the Classical Greek πολύεδρον:

polys (πολύς), meaning many

hedron (a form of ἕδρα), meaning base or seat.

The technically correct plural of polyhedron is polyhedra, but the word polyhedrons can often be found.

Sources

• 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.4$: Euclid (flourished ca. $300$ B.C.)
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): polyhedron: 1. (plural polyhedra)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): polyhedron: 1. (plural polyhedra)
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): polyhedron (polyhedra)