Meaning & use
intersecting lines
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Meanings
nounpluralmathematics
Two or more lines in the same plane that cross each other and share one point.
Grammar: Almost always plural because it takes at least two lines: intersecting lines cross at a point.
Patterns
- lines intersect at a point
- a pair of intersecting lines
Intersecting lines create four angles at the point where they cross.
The two intersecting lines on the graph meet at the point (2, 3).
Draw a pair of intersecting lines and measure the opposite angles.
nounplural
Roads, rails or similar paths that cross one another, often shown on a map or plan.
Grammar: Used in an everyday way for crossing paths: the intersecting lines on the map.
Patterns
- intersecting lines on a map
- where the lines intersect
The map showed several intersecting lines where the railways crossed.
Engineers studied the intersecting lines of the old tram network.
The pattern on the quilt was made of intersecting lines in bright colors.
Common combinations
- pair of intersecting lines
- A pair of intersecting lines forms four angles.
- point of intersection
- The point of intersection of the two lines is labeled A.
- angles formed by intersecting lines
- The angles formed by intersecting lines add up to 360 degrees.
- draw intersecting lines
- Draw two intersecting lines and label the angles.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crossing lines
- Crossing lines is the everyday phrase, whereas intersecting lines is the standard term in geometry.
- transversals
- A transversal is one line that cuts across other lines, so it is narrower than a pair of intersecting lines.
Opposites
Word family
- intersect verb
- to cross or meet at a point
- intersection noun
- the point or place where lines or roads cross
- intersecting adjective
- crossing each other
- perpendicular adjective
- meeting at a right angle
Commonly confused: intersecting lines or parallel lines?
intersecting lines vs parallel lines
Parallel lines stay the same distance apart and never meet, while intersecting lines cross at one point.
Practice
How many points do two intersecting lines in a flat plane share?
Choose one answer.
Two straight lines that intersect meet at exactly one point. Sharing none describes parallel lines, and infinitely many describes lines that coincide.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intersecting lines”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.