angle

1 of 4

noun (1)

an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space
They sheltered in an angle of the building.
2
a
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
b
: a measure of an angle or of the amount of turning necessary to bring one line or plane into coincidence with or parallel to another
3
a
: the direction from which someone or something is approached
soldiers being attacked from every angle
a football player trying to get an angle on an opponent [=approach an opponent from an effective angle]
b
: the precise viewpoint from which something is observed or considered
a camera angle
consider the question from all angles
also : the aspect seen from such an angle
discuss all angles of the question
c(1)
: a special approach, point of attack, or technique for accomplishing an objective
try a new angle
(2)
: an often improper or illicit method of obtaining advantage
a salesman always looking for an angle
4
: a sharply divergent course
The road went off at an angle.
angled adjective

angle

2 of 4

verb (1)

angled; angling ˈaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)

intransitive verb

: to turn or proceed at an angle
The road angles up the hill.

transitive verb

1
: to turn, move, or direct at an angle
slipped the key in and angled it to one side
2
: to present (something, such as a news story) from a particular or prejudiced point of view : slant
angled stories toward the newspaper's political preferences

angle

3 of 4

verb (2)

angled; angling

intransitive verb

1
: to fish with a hook
2
: to use artful means to attain an objective
angled for an invitation

Angle

4 of 4

noun (2)

An·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce Angle (audio)
: a member of a Germanic people that invaded England along with the Saxons and Jutes in the fifth century a.d. and merged with them to form the Anglo-Saxon peoples

Examples of angle in a Sentence

Noun (1) The lines are at sharp angles to each other. Critics love the clever camera angles the director used in the film. She took pictures of the same scene from several different angles. The soldiers were being attacked from every angle. We need to approach the problem from a new angle. They considered the question from all angles. The reporter tried to work that angle into his story. Verb (1) angle the camera this way and the Leaning Tower of Pisa will look straight
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Perin managed to deny the spot kick, only to see former Atalanta striker El Billa Toure beat him from a tight angle in injury time. Adam Digby, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 The former producer remains at Rikers Island but has been pushing his attorneys to explore every legal angle in his defense, Aidala said. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
Walk through the park, angling between Bonita Cove on the right and Mariners Way on the left. Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 The Tushy attachment is simple to install and includes adjustable water pressure and angling for the perfect cleanse. Malia Griggs, SELF, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for angle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'angle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, "corner, recess, two lines extending from the same point," borrowed from Anglo-French angle, aungle, going back to Latin angulus "two lines extending from the same point, corner, nook," going back to Indo-European *h2eng-lo-, *h2eng-elo-, whence also Old Church Slavic ǫgŭlŭ "corner, angle," Russian úgol, genitive uglá, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ȕgao, ȕgla, Armenian ankiwn, and perhaps Germanic *ankula-, *ankila- ankle

Verb (1)

Middle English anglen "to meet at an angle," derivative of angle angle entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English anglen, derivative of angel "fishhook," going back to Old English angel, ongel, going back to Germanic *angula- "hook, barb" (whence also Old Saxon angul "fishhook," Old High German, "hook, barb," Old Norse ǫngull "fishhook"), going back to Indo-European *h2enk-ul-ó-, derivative, perhaps diminutive, of a base *h2enk- seen also in the n-stem noun *h2enk-ón- (whence Old English anga "prick, goad," Old High German ango "sting, barb, door hinge," Greek ankṓn "bend, elbow"), suffixed in Greek ankýlos "bent, crooked, curved," and as an o-grade derivative in Greek ónkos "barb of an arrow," Latin uncus "curved at the extremities, hooked, a hook," and probably Sanskrit aṅkáḥ "curve, hook"; *h2enk- perhaps attested as a primary verb in Sanskrit áñcati, ácati "(it) bends, curves"

Note: Indo-European *h2enk- appears to be synonymous with the base *h2eng- —see angle entry 1, ankle.

Noun (2)

Latin Angli, plural, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English Engle Angles

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of angle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near angle

Cite this Entry

“Angle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angle. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

angle

1 of 3 noun
an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a sharp projecting corner
2
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
3
: a measure of the amount that one line of an angle would have to be turned to be in exactly the same place as the other line
a 90-degree angle
4
: point of view, aspect
consider a problem from a new angle
5
: an often improper way of getting an advantage
a cheater looking for an angle
6
: a sharply curving course or direction
the road went off at an angle
angled adjective

angle

2 of 3 verb
angled; angling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: to turn, move, or direct at an angle
2
: to present (as a news story) from a particular point of view : slant

angle

3 of 3 verb
angled; angling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: to fish with hook and line
2
: to try to get what one wants in a sly way
angling for a promotion
Etymology

Noun

Middle English angle "corner," from early French angle (same meaning), from Latin angulus "angle"

Verb

derived from Old English angel "fishhook," from anga "hook"

Medical Definition

angle

noun
an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space
2
a
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
b
: a measure of an angle or of the amount of turning necessary to bring one line or plane into coincidence with or parallel to another
angled adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on angle

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