angular defect

noun

The amount by which the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is less than 180° (π radians); the amount by which the sum of the internal angles of a polygon is less than what would be expected on the Euclidean plane.

Similar
angular deficiencyangular deficitamount by which the total of the total of the angles around a vertex of a polyhedron is less than 360°vertical defect

Meanings

nounangular defect (plural angular defects)

plural angular defects

  1. non-Euclidean geometrygeometryThe amount by which the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is less than 180° (π radians); the amount by which the sum of the internal angles of a polygon is less than what would be expected on the Euclidean plane.

    Prop. XVI. If the angular defects of two triangles are equal, the areas of the triangles are equal.

    1864, Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, volume 23, page 444
    2 more examples

    We have seen that under any reasonable definition of area, the angular defect of a triangle is proportional to its area.

    1995, Arlan Ramsay, Robert D. Richtmyer, Introduction to Hyperbolic Geometry, page 120

    In hyperbolic geometry, similar triangles do not exist and the area of a triangle is directly proportional to its angular defect[…].

    1998, Kappa Mu Epsilon, The Pentagon: A Mathematics Magazine for Students, page 7

    Synonyms: angular deficiency, angular deficit

  2. geometryThe amount by which the total of the angles around a vertex of a polyhedron is less than 360° (2π radians).

    2015, Jan Guichelaar (translator and editor), Alex Van Den Brandhof, Arnout Jaspers (editors), Half a Century of Pythagoras Magazine, page 164, Theorem. For a spherical polyhedron the total angular defect equals 720°.

    2 more examples

    The angular defect clearly has something to do with curvature, because the larger it is, the more pointed the surface is at the vertex.

    2005, Max K. Agoston, Computer Graphics and Geometric Modelling: Mathematics, page 604

    2014, C. R. Calladine, The Static-geometric Analogy in the Equations of Thin Shell Structures, W. Olszak, Thin Shell Theory: New Trends and Applications, page 294, Figure 4(c) shows a flattened view of a small part of the undeformed polygonalized S-surface, consisting of the triangles surrounding a particular vertex. When the S-surface is strained there will be a consequent change of angular defect, which we wish to calculate.

  3. dentistryThe angular displacement of a tooth from vertical.

    In most instances angular defects have accompanying infrabony pockets; infrabony pockets always have an underlying angular defect.

    1986, Fermin A. Carranza, Dorothy A. Perry, Clinical Periodontology for the Dental Hygienist, page 62
    2 more examples

    The base of the angular defect is usually located apical to the surrounding bone and most often accompanied by infrabony pockets.[…]Angular defects are classified on the basis of number of walls.

    2008, T. Siji Jacob, P. Arunmozhi, Viva Voce in Periodontics, page 74

    Without therapy, the positive predictive rate of an angular defect to forecast more bone loss (22 mm) during a 10-year study was 28%.

    2008, Dental Learning Systems, Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, volume 28, numbers 7-11, page 442

    Synonyms: amount by which the total of the total of the angles around a vertex of a polyhedron is less than 360°, vertical defect

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe amount by which the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is less than 180° (π radians); the amount by which the sum of the internal angles of a polygon is less than what would be expected on the Euclidean plane.

Similar
angular deficiencyangular deficit

nounThe angular displacement of a tooth from vertical.

Similar
amount by which the total of the total of the angles around a vertex of a polyhedron is less than 360°vertical defect
Cite this entry
APA

angular defect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angular%20defect

MLA

“angular defect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angular%20defect. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “angular defect,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angular%20defect.

Source: angular defect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.