Cevian

/ˈsiːviən/ noun

Definition

In geometry, a line segment in a triangle connecting a vertex to a point on the opposite side.

Etymology

Named after the Italian mathematician Giovanni Ceva (1647-1734), who discovered properties of these lines. The suffix '-ian' indicates it's named after a person.

Kelly Says

Cevians are the foundation of beautiful geometric theorems—Ceva's Theorem states that three cevians intersect at a single point if and only if certain ratios multiply to equal one, which feels like magic!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.