TOP

Definition of horizontal adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

horizontal

adjective
OPAL W
 
/ˌhɒrɪˈzɒntl/
 
/ˌhɔːrɪˈzɑːntl/
jump to other results
  1. flat and level; going across and parallel to the ground rather than going up and down
    • horizontal lines
    • (informal) I was so tired, I just wanted to be horizontal (= lying down).
    compare vertical (1)Topics Colours and Shapesb2, Maths and measurementb2
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryHorizontal is used with these nouns:
    • arrow
    • axis
    • beam
    • …
    See full entry
  2. having a structure in which all people, activities, etc. are on the same level
    • The new CEO wants to introduce a more horizontal management structure.
    compare vertical (2)
    3. Word Originmid 16th cent. (originally meaning something of or at the horizon): from French, or from modern Latin horizontalis, from late Latin horizon, horizont-, from Greek horizōn (kuklos) ‘limiting (circle)’.
See horizontal in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee horizontal in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: horizontal

Nearby words

paragraph
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
A1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day