Meaning & use
frusta
Last updated
“frusta” is a form of “frustum”.
Meanings
nounpluraltechnicalmathematics
The plural of frustum: the part of a cone or pyramid left after the top is cut off parallel to the base.
Grammar: This is a plural form; the singular is 'frustum'. It takes a plural verb: the frusta are stacked.
Patterns
- a set of frusta
- the frusta of a cone
- stacked frusta
The geometry teacher asked the class to calculate the volume of three frusta.
The sculpture was made from several metal frusta welded together.
In the diagram, the frusta are shown in different colors to make the shapes clear.
nounpluralspecialist
The plural of frustum: a type of brush made from stiff animal hair, used in art and archaeology.
Grammar: Again a plural; the singular 'frustum' is rare in this sense. Use with a plural verb.
Patterns
- a set of frusta
- use frusta to clean
- fine frusta
The restorer used soft frusta to brush dust from the ancient pottery.
Painters in the past kept several frusta of different sizes in their kits.
The museum's conservation lab stores its frusta in a dust-free cabinet.
Word forms
| singular | frustum |
|---|
Common combinations
- a set of frusta
- A set of frusta was arranged on the table for the lesson.
- the frusta of a cone
- The frusta of a cone can be stacked to form a tower.
- metal frusta
- The artist joined metal frusta to create a modern sculpture.
Word family
- frustum noun
- The singular form, meaning one such shape or brush.
Commonly confused: frusta or frustum? frusta or frustrate?
frusta vs frustum
Frustum is singular; frusta is the plural. Learners sometimes use 'frusta' for one object, which is incorrect.
frusta vs frustrate
Frustrate is a verb meaning to make someone annoyed or discouraged; it is unrelated to the shape or brush.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Frusta is plural, so it takes a plural verb like 'are'. Option 2 uses a singular verb, option 3 treats it as one object, and option 4 reverses the singular and plural forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “frusta”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.