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Glite Dictionary
quadric surface

quadric surface

9.9
A surface in three-dimensional space made by an equation with squared terms in x, y, and z
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɒdrɪk ˈsɜːrfɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : superficie cuádruple
  • In her research, she studied different types of quadric surfaces, such as ellipsoids and hyperboloids.

Examples

  • For the project, we created 3D models of various quadric surfaces to visualize their geometric properties.

  • We found that they were quadric surfaces, so.

  • The mathematician explained that a quadric surface is formed by the intersection of a plane with a second-degree equation.

Synonyms

quadric
vsquadric surface
  • Specialized
9.9

A curve or surface like an ellipse that has an equation with squared terms

refers only to surfaces in three-dimensional space defined by that equation

Surface Forms

quadric surface singular
quadric surfaces plural

Morphology

quadric + surface

The meaning is directly compositional: 'quadric' specifies a geometric type (defined by a second-degree equation) and 'surface' names the two-dimensional manifold, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'a surface defined by a second-degree equation.' Although technical, the compound follows standard noun + noun modification patterns common across languages and is thus predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Quadric surface comes from the parts quadric meaning 'made from squares' and surface meaning a 3D shape. Equations that use squared x, y, or z make curved forms like spheres, bowls, or saddles, so the name tells you it is a surface made by those squared terms.