catacorner

9.3

At a corner diagonally across an intersection from another place

adjective
/ˌkætəˈkɔrnər/

: diagonal

The bakery is catacorner from the bookstore.

Examples

They built their house catacorner to the playground so the kids could see it from their window.
The two restaurants are located catacorner from each other at the crossroads.
The bakery is catacorner from the post office, right across the intersection.
She lives catacorner to the park.
The bakery is catacorner from the post office, right across the intersection.
The two restaurants are located catacorner from each other at the crossroads.
They built their house catacorner to the playground so the kids could see it from their window.

Synonyms

catty-corner

vscatacorner

2 7.9

At an angle across the corner of a street or room

is the same diagonal idea but expressed as the more general word

kitty-corner

vscatacorner

1 7.9

Diagonally across the street from another place

is the same diagonal notion but not limited to intersections or spaces

catty-cornered

vscatacorner

1 7.8

On the opposite corner from a place like a shop or house

is the general diagonal concept rather than this shape-focused adjectival form

cater-cornered

vscatacorner

1 8.6

Diagonally across the street at the opposite corner from another building

is the basic diagonal term rather than this particular adjectival variant

catercorner

vscatacorner

1 8.8

At the corner diagonally across from another place

is the general diagonal descriptor rather than this specific naming form

kitty-cornered

vscatacorner

1 7.9

A place diagonally across an intersection from another place

is the core diagonal term rather than this past participle style form

catawampus

vscatacorner

Informal

1 9.9

Placed at an angle so it is not straight

is specifically about being positioned exactly on a diagonal line opposite something

cata-cornered

vscatacorner

Archaic

9.1

Placed diagonally across from something at the opposite corner

is the concise diagonal term without emphasizing intersection placement

Surface Forms

catacorner positive

Etymology

The word catacorner comes from the old French quatre meaning 'four' and the English corner. Think of a square with four corners: the catacorner spot is the one diagonally across from you, so catacorner means 'diagonally opposite'.