dihedral angle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2technical/scientific
Quick answer
What does “dihedral angle” mean?
The angle formed by two intersecting planes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The angle formed by two intersecting planes.
In geometry and chemistry, the angle formed between two half-planes or between the normals of two intersecting surfaces. In aviation, it can refer to the upward angle of an aircraft's wings from the horizontal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling of related terms follows regional conventions (e.g., 'centre of rotation' vs. 'center of rotation').
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare outside specific scientific/engineering contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “dihedral angle” in a Sentence
The dihedral angle between [Plane A] and [Plane B] is X degrees.A dihedral angle is formed by [two intersecting surfaces].To find/calculate the dihedral angle of [a polyhedron].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dihedral angle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The wing design dihedrals upwards for stability.
- The structure was dihedralled during assembly.
American English
- The wing dihedrals upward for stability.
- The structure was dihedraled during assembly.
adverb
British English
- The wings are set dihedrally.
- The surfaces meet dihedrally.
American English
- The wings are set dihedrally.
- The surfaces meet dihedrally.
adjective
British English
- The dihedral configuration improves roll stability.
- We measured the dihedral effect.
American English
- The dihedral configuration improves roll stability.
- We measured the dihedral effect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in mathematics, engineering, chemistry, physics, and aviation textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core technical term in geometry, crystallography, molecular chemistry (protein backbone torsion angles), and aeronautical engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dihedral angle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dihedral angle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dihedral angle”
- Mispronouncing 'dihedral' as 'dee-hedral' or 'dye-hedral' with a hard 'd'. It's /daɪˈhiːdrəl/.
- Confusing it with a 'plane angle' (an angle in a single plane).
- Using it to describe the angle between two lines instead of two planes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A plane angle is formed by two intersecting lines lying in the same plane (e.g., a corner of a triangle). A dihedral angle is formed by two intersecting planes in three-dimensional space (e.g., the angle where two walls meet).
Yes. It is a key term in aviation (wing design), chemistry (torsion angles in molecules, like protein backbones), and crystallography (angles between crystal faces).
Yes. In geometry, dihedral angles are typically measured between 0° and 360°. The interior dihedral angle of a polyhedron is usually less than 180°, but the general angle between two oriented planes can have a wider range.
It comes from Greek: 'di-' meaning 'two' and 'hedra' meaning 'seat' or 'base face' (as in polyhedron). So, it literally means 'having two faces' or 'between two planes'.
The angle formed by two intersecting planes.
Dihedral angle is usually technical/scientific in register.
Dihedral angle: in British English it is pronounced /daɪˈhiːdrəl ˈæŋɡ(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˈhiːdrəl ˈæŋɡ(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two sheets of paper meeting at a spine. The 'spread' or V-shape where they meet is the DIHEDRAL ANGLE. Think: 'DIE' (two) 'HEDRAL' (like 'hedral' in polyhedron, relating to faces/sides).
Conceptual Metaphor
A gap or wedge of emptiness measured in degrees.
Practice
Quiz
In which field would the term 'dihedral angle' LEAST likely be used?