Definition:Quadrilateral/Rhombus

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Definition

A rhombus is a parallelogram whose sides are all the same length.

Rhombus.png

Its angles may or may not all be equal.


Also known as

A rhombus is also known as a rhomb.

Particularly when it is oriented so that the longer diagonal is a vertical line, a rhombus is often referred to as a diamond.

Some sources give the word lozenge, but this is old-fashioned, and nowadays brings with it an association with throat medication.


Also see


Euclid's Definitions

In the words of Euclid:

Of quadrilateral figures, a square is that which is both equilateral and right-angled; an oblong that which is right-angled but not equilateral; a rhombus that which is equilateral but not right-angled; and a rhomboid that which has its opposite sides equal to one another but is neither equilateral nor right-angled. And let quadrilaterals other than these be called trapezia.

(The Elements: Book $\text{I}$: Definition $22$)


Linguistic Note

The plural of rhombus is properly rhombi, although you may occasionally see the technically incorrect rhombuses.


The adjectival form of rhombus is rhombic, meaning:

shaped like, or appertaining to, a rhombus.


Sources