parallelogram

 
Pronunciation: /ˌparəˈlɛləgram/

noun

  • a four-sided plane rectilinear figure with opposite sides parallel.

Phrases

parallelogram of forces

a parallelogram illustrating the theorem that if two forces acting at a point are represented in magnitude and direction by two sides of a parallelogram meeting at that point, their resultant is represented by the diagonal drawn from that point.

Origin:

late 16th century: from French parallélogramme, via late Latin from Greek parallēlogrammon, from parallēlos 'alongside another' + grammē 'line'