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vertical

adjective ver·ti·cal \ˈvər-ti-kəl\

: positioned up and down rather than from side to side : going straight up

: having a structure in which there are top, middle, and bottom levels

Full Definition of VERTICAL

a : situated at the highest point : directly overhead or in the zenith

b of an aerial photograph : taken with the camera pointing straight down or nearly so

a : perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis : upright

b (1) : located at right angles to the plane of a supporting surface (2) : lying in the direction of an axis : lengthwise

a : relating to, involving, or integrating economic activity from basic production to point of sale <a vertical monopoly>

b : of, relating to, or comprising persons of different status <the vertical arrangement of society>

— vertical noun

— ver·ti·cal·i·ty \ˌvər-tə-ˈka-lə-tē\ noun

— ver·ti·cal·ly \ˈvər-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— ver·ti·cal·ness \-kəl-nəs\ noun

See vertical defined for English-language learners

See vertical defined for kids

Origin of VERTICAL

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin verticalis, from Latin vertic-, vertex

First Known Use: 1559

Related to VERTICAL

Synonyms: perpendicular, plumb, raised, standing, stand-up, upright, upstanding, erect

Antonyms: flat, recumbent

Synonym Discussion of VERTICAL

vertical, perpendicular, plumb mean being at right angles to a base line. vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith <the side of the cliff is almost vertical>. perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one <the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts>. plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity <make sure that the wall is plumb>.

VERTICAL Defined for Kids

¹vertical

adjective ver·ti·cal \ˈvər-ti-kəl\

Definition of VERTICAL for Kids

: rising straight up and down from a level surface

— ver·ti·cal·ly adverb

²vertical

noun

Definition of VERTICAL for Kids

: something (as a line or plane) that rises straight up and down

Medical Dictionary

vertical

adjective ver·ti·cal \ˈvərt-i-kəl\

Medical Definition of VERTICAL

: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route <vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to infant>—compare horizontal 2

—ver·ti·cal·ly \ˈvərt-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb