PERPENDICULARLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does perpendicularly mean? 

• PERPENDICULARLY (adverb)
  The adverb PERPENDICULARLY has 2 senses:

1. straight up or down without a break

2. in a perpendicular manner

  Familiarity information: PERPENDICULARLY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PERPENDICULARLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Straight up or down without a break

Synonyms:

perpendicularly; sheer

Sense 2

Meaning:

In a perpendicular manner

Context example:

this red line runs perpendicularly to the green line

Pertainym:

perpendicular (intersecting at or forming right angles)

 Context examples 

A histologic hallmark of this tumor is the 'specific glioneuronal element', characterized by columns, made up of bundles of axons, oriented perpendicularly to the cortical surface.

(Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor, NCI Thesaurus/Adapted from WHO)

There was no way of penetrating the island from our cove, for the walls rose perpendicularly from the beach, and, on either side of the cove, rose from the deep water.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I heard several bangs or buffets, as I thought given to the eagle (for such I am certain it must have been that held the ring of my box in his beak), and then, all on a sudden, felt myself falling perpendicularly down, for above a minute, but with such incredible swiftness, that I almost lost my breath.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I have seen, he said, the most beautiful scenes of my own country; I have visited the lakes of Lucerne and Uri, where the snowy mountains descend almost perpendicularly to the water, casting black and impenetrable shades, which would cause a gloomy and mournful appearance were it not for the most verdant islands that relieve the eye by their gay appearance; I have seen this lake agitated by a tempest, when the wind tore up whirlwinds of water and gave you an idea of what the water-spout must be on the great ocean; and the waves dash with fury the base of the mountain, where the priest and his mistress were overwhelmed by an avalanche and where their dying voices are still said to be heard amid the pauses of the nightly wind; I have seen the mountains of La Valais, and the Pays de Vaud; but this country, Victor, pleases me more than all those wonders.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)