Polygon

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Polygon \Pol"y*gon\, n. [Gr. poly`gwnos polygonal; poly`s many +
     gwni`a angle: cf. F. polygone.] (Geom.)
     A plane figure having many angles, and consequently many
     sides; esp., one whose perimeter consists of more than four
     sides; any figure having many angles.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Polygon of forces} (Mech.), a polygonal figure, the sides of
        which, taken successively, represent, in length and
        direction, several forces acting simultaneously upon one
        point, so that the side necessary to complete the figure
        represents the resultant of those forces. Cf.
        {Parallelogram of forces}, under {Parallelogram}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  polygon
       n : a closed plane figure bounded by straight sides [syn: {polygonal
           shape}]