Shapes Picture Dictionary

Learn 40 reviewed shapes words with original pictures, definitions, pronunciation, examples, translations, and related vocabulary.

Circle

Circle

A circle is a closed two-dimensional curve where every point on the edge is exactly the same distance from the center. It represents perfect symmetry and continuity, often serving as a symbol for infinity, inclusion, or the cycle of life.

Cone

Cone

A cone is a unique three-dimensional geometric figure featuring a flat, circular base and a curved side that narrows upward. This slanted surface culminates at a single exterior point known as the apex, creating a distinct pointed structure.

Crescent

Crescent

A crescent is a distinct, curved shape characterized by a thick center that tapers into two thin, pointed tips. It resembles the visible sliver of the moon during its early or late phases, often symbolizing growth or change.

Cross

Cross

A cross is a geometric figure consisting of two intersecting lines, typically perpendicular to one another. It serves globally as a transformative symbol for faith, a mathematical operator, or a functional mark used to indicate positions and errors.

Cube

Cube

A cube is a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets, or sides, with three meeting at each vertex. It is a regular hexahedron and is one of the five Platonic solids, characterized by equal side lengths and right angles.

Cuboid

Cuboid

A cuboid is a three-dimensional geometric solid defined by six rectangular faces joined at right angles. It features twelve edges and eight vertices. Unlike a cube, its length, width, and height do not necessarily have to be equal.

Curve

Curve

A curve is a smooth, continuous line that bends without sharp angles or corners. It can be open or closed and appears in many mathematical graphs, natural shapes, and designs, representing gradual changes in direction rather than straight edges.

Cylinder

Cylinder

A cylinder is a three-dimensional geometric figure consisting of two identical circular ends joined by a curved side. It is characterized by having a constant cross-section, no vertices, and a smooth, uniform surface similar to a roller or a column.

Decagon

Decagon

A decagon is a two-dimensional polygon with ten straight sides and ten interior angles. It can be regular, with equal sides and angles, or irregular. Decagons are commonly studied in geometry and appear in design, tiling, and architectural patterns.

Diamond

Diamond

A diamond is a quadrilateral characterized by four equal sides, where opposite angles are equal and opposite sides are parallel. It is frequently associated with precious gemstones and represents clarity, durability, and symmetrical elegance in design.

Dodecagon

Dodecagon

A dodecagon is a two-dimensional geometric figure characterized by twelve straight sides and twelve interior angles. In a regular dodecagon, all sides are equal in length, and each internal angle measures exactly 150 degrees.

Ellipse

Ellipse

An ellipse is a smooth, closed curve shaped like a stretched circle. It has two focal points, and the sum of distances from any point on the curve to these foci remains constant. Ellipses are widely used in physics, astronomy, and design.

Hemisphere

Hemisphere

A hemisphere is a three-dimensional geometric shape formed by dividing a sphere into two equal halves. It features one flat, circular face and one curved, bowl-like surface. In geography, it describes the halves of the Earth divided by the equator.

Hendecagon

Hendecagon

A hendecagon is a two-dimensional geometric figure characterized by eleven straight sides and eleven interior angles. In a regular hendecagon, all sides and angles are equal, with each interior angle measuring approximately 147.27 degrees.

Heptagon

Heptagon

A heptagon is a polygon with seven sides and seven angles. In a metaphorical sense, its odd number of sides suggests an internal imbalance, mirroring the complex, uneven layers of melancholy found in profound isolation and loneliness.

Hexagon

Hexagon

A hexagon is a two-dimensional geometric shape with six equal sides and angles. Symbolically, it represents efficiency and interconnectedness, yet its rigid symmetry can also evoke a sense of cold, clinical detachment or a structured, repetitive loneliness.

Hexagram

Hexagram

A hexagram is a distinct six-pointed star shape created by superimposing two equilateral triangles. While often used as a geometric study of symmetry, it carries profound historical and cultural significance globally, most notably as the Star of David.

Kite

Kite

A kite is a four-sided geometric shape with two distinct pairs of adjacent sides that are equal in length. It typically has one line of symmetry and diagonals that intersect at right angles.

Lozenge

Lozenge

A lozenge is a four-sided, diamond-shaped figure with equal sides but non-right angles. In a medical context, it refers to a small, flavored tablet dissolved in the mouth to deliver medication, typically used to soothe throat irritation.

Nonagon

Nonagon

A nonagon is a polygon featuring nine sides and nine vertices. Metaphorically, its numerous angles reflect a complex, lingering melancholy, illustrating the intricate and heavy layers of solitude that arise when one feels disconnected from the surrounding world.

Oblong

Oblong

An oblong is a geometric shape, typically a rectangle or an ellipse, that is significantly longer in one direction than the other. Unlike a perfect square or circle, its unequal dimensions give it an elongated, stretched appearance.

Octagon

Octagon

An octagon is a polygon defined by eight sides and eight internal angles. Metaphorically, its many-sided structure reflects a heavy, reinforced solitude, where every angle represents a different, rigid wall built around one's internal sense of loneliness.

Oval

Oval

An oval is a closed curve resembling a flattened circle or the cross-section of an egg. Unlike polygons, it lacks straight edges and vertices, instead featuring a continuous, smooth perimeter that conveys a sense of organic movement and elegance.

Parallel

Parallel

Parallel lines are lines in a plane that never intersect and remain the same distance apart at all points. They extend infinitely in both directions and are commonly used in geometry, construction, and design to show alignment and consistency.

Parallelogram

Parallelogram

A parallelogram is a two-dimensional quadrilateral featuring two pairs of parallel sides. Opposite angles are equal, and opposite sides are of identical length. While rectangles and rhombuses are types of parallelograms, the general form often looks like a slanted box.

Pentagon

Pentagon

A pentagon is a geometrical polygon featuring five sides and five interior angles. In symbolic geometry, its balanced structure often represents the human form or the five senses, serving as a powerful emblem of stability, fortification, and organic complexity.

Pentagram

Pentagram

A pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn with five straight, interconnected lines. Historically used as a symbolic or religious emblem, in geometry, it represents a self-intersecting star polygon often associated with the golden ratio and symmetry.

Prism

Prism

A prism is a three-dimensional polyhedron featuring two congruent, parallel bases connected by flat rectangular sides. In optics, a transparent glass prism refracts light, famously splitting white light into its constituent spectral colors, creating a vibrant rainbow effect.

Pyramid

Pyramid

A pyramid is a three-dimensional polyhedron formed by connecting a polygonal base to a single point called the apex. Its lateral faces are always triangular. While bases can vary, the square-based pyramid is the most iconic geometric form.

Rectangle

Rectangle

A rectangle is a four-sided polygon where all interior angles are right angles (90 degrees). Its opposite sides are equal in length and parallel, making it a highly practical shape commonly found in doors, screens, and books.

Right Triangle

Right Triangle

A right triangle is a fundamental geometric polygon characterized by having one interior angle measuring exactly $90$ degrees. This specific structure allows for the application of the Pythagorean theorem to calculate side lengths in mathematics and architecture.

Semicircle

Semicircle

A semicircle is a one-dimensional locus of points forming half of a circle. In design, it represents an arc of 180 degrees, often used to symbolize a bridge, an open horizon, or a state of being partially complete.

Spiral

Spiral

In geometry, a spiral is a continuous curve that radiates from a central point or axis, getting progressively more distant with every rotation. Unlike a circle, its radius constantly changes, creating a sense of infinite outward expansion or inward focus.

Square

Square

A square is a fundamental four-sided polygon characterized by equal side lengths and four interior right angles. It represents stability, balance, and order, frequently serving as a primary structural element in both architecture and modern graphic design.

Star

Star

A star is a geometric polygon featuring five or more points radiating from a center. Historically inspired by celestial stars, it symbolizes light, excellence, and luck. It is a universal icon used frequently in decoration, navigation, and symbolic branding.

Torus

Torus

A torus is a three-dimensional surface of revolution shaped like a doughnut. It is generated by rotating a circle around an axis that rests in the same plane but does not touch the circle itself, creating a hollow ring.

Trapezoid

Trapezoid

A trapezoid is a two-dimensional quadrilateral featuring four straight sides. Its defining characteristic is having at least one pair of opposite sides that are parallel to each other. These parallel sides are known as the bases of the shape.

Triangle

Triangle

A triangle is a two-dimensional polygon defined by three straight sides and three interior angles that always sum to 180 degrees. It is the simplest possible polygon and provides essential stability in construction, mathematics, and artistic composition.

Tridecagon

Tridecagon

A tridecagon is a two-dimensional geometric figure featuring thirteen straight sides and thirteen interior angles. In a regular tridecagon, all sides are equal in length, and each internal angle measures approximately 152.31 degrees.

Zigzag

Zigzag

A zigzag is a pattern characterized by small, sharp turns in alternating directions. It consists of a series of connected line segments that form constant "V" shapes, creating a jagged path often used in geometry, design, and sewing.