hexagonal

IPA/hekˈsæɡənl/
KK[hɛksˈæɡənəl]IPA/hekˈsæɡənl/

hexagonal — adjective

  • hexagonalpositive
  • more hexagonalcomparative
  • most hexagonalsuperlative

1. describing a flat shape or the cross-section of an object that has six straight

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a flat shape or the cross-section of an object that has six straight edges, like a honeycomb cell or a standard pencil viewed from the end.

Example

Esme noticed that every wax cell in the beehive was a perfect hexagonal shape.

attributive: hexagonal + noun (shape)

The tiles on the kitchen floor were hexagonal, fitting together with no gaps between them.

predicative: be + hexagonal

Common collocations
  • hexagonal tile
  • hexagonal nut
  • hexagonal pencil
  • hexagonal shape
  • hexagonal pattern
Synonyms
  • six-sided

    everyday equivalent; preferred in casual speech

  • honeycomb-shaped

    describes a repeating pattern of hexagons, not a single shape

Grammar Patterns

hexagonal + noun

be + hexagonal

Usage Note

Almost always used attributively before a noun (hexagonal tile, hexagonal nut). Most often describes flat shapes or the cross-section of long objects, not three-dimensional volumes.

Common Mistakes

The box was hexagonal-shaped on every side.
Each face of the box was hexagonal.
apply 'hexagonal' to a 2D shape or face, not to a whole 3D object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe shapes with six edges, but they live in different registers and apply to different things. 'Hexagonal' is the precise, slightly technical word a designer, engineer, or geometry teacher would choose; it works for any single six-sided shape or face, from a bolt head to a tile. 'Six-sided' is the plain English equivalent — natural in everyday speech and in a children's book, but sounds informal in a technical drawing. 'Honeycomb-shaped' describes a repeating pattern of many hexagons packed together, not one shape on its own. A single tile is hexagonal; a whole tiled wall can be honeycomb-shaped.

hexagonal ↗six-sidedhoneycomb-shaped

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hexagonal cross-section

Etymology

GreekLate LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Greek 'hex' meaning six and 'gonia' meaning angle or corner, joined through Late Latin and French before entering English in the late 1500s. The related noun 'hexagon' arrived in English at the same time and shares the same roots.