diagonally

Everyday

1. Diagonally means in a straight slanting line from one corner to the opposite corner. tree →
2. Diagonally can mean at a slant, not straight up and down or straight across. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, you can cut a square diagonally into two triangles; bishops in chess move diagonally. In everyday life, «diagonally opposite» tells where something is. Safety: cross roads straight across, not diagonally. Phrases: «cut diagonally», «diagonally opposite», «move diagonally».

Examples

• Cut the sandwich diagonally to make two triangles. tree →
• The bishop moves diagonally on the chessboard. tree →
• The shop is diagonally opposite the school. tree →
• Fold the square paper diagonally. tree →
• Draw a line diagonally across the rectangle. tree →
• The rain was falling diagonally in the wind. tree →
• Always cross the road straight across, not diagonally. tree →

Note

From «diagonal» (adjective and noun). In maths, cutting a square or rectangle diagonally gives two equal right-angled triangles, each with half the area. A diagonal joins two corners that are not next to each other. A diagonal of a rectangle is longer than either side.