geometry

IPA/dʒiˈɒmətri/
KK[dʒiˈɑmətri]IPA/dʒiˈɑːmətri/

geometry — noun

1. the study of how objects sit in space, covering their size, shape, and position

1.nounB1
Definition

the study of how objects sit in space, covering their size, shape, and position — a field of mathematics used in design, engineering, and science.

Example

Iris enjoyed learning about the different shapes in her first geometry class.

collocation: geometry class

In geometry, the distance around a circle is called the circumference.

uncountable noun: 'in geometry' as a field of study

Common collocations
  • geometry class
  • geometry problem
  • geometry textbook
  • study geometry
  • learn geometry
  • teach geometry
Synonyms
  • mathematics

    much broader field that includes geometry as one part

  • trigonometry

    a specific branch of geometry focused on triangles and angles

  • topology

    a related but more abstract field studying the properties of shapes that remain unchanged under stretching or bending

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable when referring to the academic subject. The plural form 'geometries' is rare and used only for different systems of geometry (e.g. Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries).

Common Mistakes

I have a geometry book.
I have a geometry textbook.
'geometry' is uncountable for the field; use 'textbook' or 'book about geometry' for the physical item.
Algebra is a geometry.
Algebra is a branch of mathematics, like geometry.
geometry is a distinct field, not a type of algebra.

2. the particular pattern or arrangement in which the parts of an object or structu

2.nounB2
Definition

the particular pattern or arrangement in which the parts of an object or structure are placed, especially one that affects how it looks or works.

Example

The geometry of the new sports stadium allows more sunlight to reach the field.

pattern: the geometry of + [object]

Esteban studied the delicate geometry of snowflakes using a special microscope.

Common collocations
  • the geometry of
  • complex geometry
  • unusual geometry
  • delicate geometry
  • natural geometry
Synonyms
  • configuration

    more general term for the way parts are arranged; less tied to mathematical shapes

  • structure

    broader, referring to any organised whole, not just shape

  • layout

    more informal, especially for two-dimensional arrangements like floor plans

Grammar Patterns

the geometry of + [object/structure]

Usage Note

Often used with 'the ... of' pattern to describe the shape or layout of a specific object. This sense is common in design, architecture, and engineering contexts.

Common Mistakes

The geometry of my phone case broke.
The geometry of my phone case makes it easy to hold.
geometry refers to the shape or arrangement, not the physical material.
I learned a new geometry today.
I learned about the geometry of honeycomb cells today.
this sense still takes an article or modifier describing which arrangement.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms name academic subjects, but they differ in scope and focus. Mathematics is the broadest category — the study of numbers, quantities, structures, and change. Geometry is one branch within mathematics that focuses specifically on shapes, space, and the relationships between points and surfaces. Algebra deals with symbols and rules for working with unknown values (e.g. solving x + 3 = 7). Trigonometry, a subfield of geometry, studies the relationships between angles and sides of triangles. A student might say 'I like geometry because drawing shapes helps me understand the problems, but algebra feels too abstract.'

geometry ↗mathematics ↗algebra ↗trigonometry ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • geometry class
  • geometry problem
  • geometry teacher
  • geometry textbook
  • geometry set

Phrases

  • plane geometry
  • solid geometry
  • Euclidean geometry
  • analytic geometry

Prepositions

  • in geometry
  • of geometry

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Geometry comes from the Greek word 'geometria', which is made from 'ge' meaning 'earth' and 'metria' meaning 'measurement'. So its original meaning was literally 'land measurement' — the practical skill used by ancient Egyptian and Greek surveyors to measure fields after the annual floods of the Nile. Over time it developed into the formal mathematical field we know today.