Glossary of shapes with metaphorical names

Many shapes have metaphorical names, i.e., their names are metaphors: these shapes are named after a most common object that has it. For example, "U-shape" is a shape that resembles the letter U, a bell-shaped curve has the shape of the vertical cross-section of a bell, etc. These terms may variously refer to objects, their cross sections or projections.

Gaussian curve with a two-dimensional domain

Types of shapes

Some of these names are "classical terms", i.e., words of Latin or Ancient Greek etymology. Others are English language constructs (although the base words may have non-English etymology). In some disciplines, where shapes of subjects in question are a very important consideration, the shape naming may be quite elaborate, see, e.g., the taxonomy of shapes of plant leaves in botany.

Numbers and letters

  • A-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter A
  • B-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter B
  • C-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter C
  • D-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter D
  • Deltoid, the shape that resembles the Greek capital letter Δ
  • E-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter E
  • F-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter F
  • Figure 0, the shape that resembles the numeral 0
  • Figure 1, the shape that resembles the numeral 1
  • Figure 2, the shape that resembles the numeral 2
  • Figure 3, the shape that resembles the numeral 3
  • Figure 4, the shape that resembles the numeral 4
  • Figure 5, the shape that resembles the numeral 5
  • Figure 6, the shape that resembles the numeral 6
  • Figure 7, the shape that resembles the numeral 7
  • Figure 8, the shape that resembles the numeral 8
  • Figure 9, the shape that resembles the numeral 9
  • G-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter G
  • H-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter H
  • I-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter I in a serif font, i.e., with horizontal strokes
  • J-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter J
  • K-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter K
  • L-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter L
  • Lemniscate, the shape that resembles the infinity symbol
  • M-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter M (interchangeable with the W-shape)
  • N-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter N (interchangeable with the Z-shape)
  • O-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter O
  • P-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter P
    • P-trap, a P-shaped pipe under a sink or basin
  • Pi-shape, the shape that resembles the Greek capital letter Π
  • Q-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter Q
  • R-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter R
  • S-shape, the shape that resembles the capital letter S
    • The sigmoid colon, an S-shaped bend in the human intestine
    • S-twist, contrasted with Z-twist for yarn

See also

References

  1. "Bullet Nose". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  2. "Butterfly Curve". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  3. "Bicorn". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  4. "Cassini Ovals". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  5. "lecotropal". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  6. Allaby, Michael (2015-09-05). The Dictionary of Science for Gardeners. Portland, OR: Timber Press. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  7. Partridge, Eric (2006-05-23). "Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English". Milton Park, UK: Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  8. "Maltese Cross Curve". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  9. "Area of a mushroom-shaped curve". Mathematics. Stack Exchange. 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  10. "Scarabaeus". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  11. "Stadium – from Wolfram MathWorld". Mathworld.wolfram.com. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  12. "Stirrup Curve". MathWorld. Wolfram. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
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