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reentrant

reentrant

9.9
Pointing inward to form a corner that cuts into a shape or building
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈɛntrənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reentrante
  • The architect designed a reentrant corner that allows for more natural light to enter the room.

Examples

  • OK Another one is whether the mutex is reentrant or non reentrant.

  • The first of the word sets (the orienteering word was reentrant) was slightly more difficult than Symbols 4.

    Academic text (2003)
  • In Test 2 (the word test), the orienteering term 'reentrant' and its associated non-orienteering terms came first.

    Academic text (2003)
  • In orienteering, many of the items that have to be found are topographic features that have unique names, like "reentrant" or "spur"; some orienteering terms are also more commonly known (such as trail or cliff).

    Academic text (2003)
  • The garden features a reentrant pathway that curves inward, creating a cozy nook for relaxation.

  • The reentrant angles in the building's facade give it a unique, modern appearance.

Synonyms

re-entrant
vsreentrant
  • Specialized
9.6

An angle that points inward and makes a notch in a shape

has identical meaning but is written without a hyphen
revolute
vsreentrant
  • Specialized
9.9

Edges rolled back on thin material like paper or cloth

describes a plain inward-pointing angle rather than rolled edges
retroflex
vsreentrant
9.3

Bent backward, like a claw or a leaf

shows an inward-pointing angle rather than a smooth backward curve
retroflexed
vsreentrant
  • Specialized
9.8

A body part that is bent backward, for example a tongue or uterus

focuses on an inward-pointing angle rather than a bodily backward bend

Antonyms

124 3.1

The outside part of something, like the walls of a house

convex
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A surface that curves outward like the outside of a ball

Compounds

reentrant angle
  • Specialized
9.9

An inside corner of a shape that bends inward past a straight line

reentrant polygon
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat shape with straight sides that has one or more inward angles greater than 180 degrees, like a star

How Indented

reentrant
  • Specialized
9.9
flat
797 1.0
convex
  • Specialized
1 5.8

Surface Forms

reentrant positive

Morphology

reentrant = entrant (semi-transparent) = re + entrant

While the form shows 're-' + 'entrant', the geometric meaning 'pointing inward' is somewhat technical and not immediately obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

The word reentrant comes from the parts re- meaning 'back' and enter as in entrance, meaning 'to go in'. That's why a reentrant angle or surface 'goes back in' and points inward into the shape.