Rectangle vs. Trapezoid — What's the Difference?

In Euclidean plane geometry, a rectangle is a quadrilateral with four right angles. It can also be defined as: an equiangular quadrilateral, since equiangular means that all of its angles are equal (360°/4 = 90°); or a parallelogram containing a right angle.

In Euclidean geometry, a convex quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides is referred to as a trapezium () in English outside North America, but as a trapezoid () in American and Canadian English. The parallel sides are called the bases of the trapezoid and the other two sides are called the legs or the lateral sides (if they are not parallel; otherwise there are two pairs of bases).

A plane figure with four straight sides and four right angles, especially one with unequal adjacent sides, in contrast to a square.

A quadrilateral having two parallel sides.

A four-sided plane figure with four right angles.

Chiefly British A trapezium.

(geometry) Any quadrilateral having opposing sides parallel and four right angles.

(Anatomy) A small bone in the wrist, situated near the base of the index finger.

(nontechnical) Such a quadrilateral that is oblong (longer than it is wide): one that is not regular (equilateral), that is, any except a square.

(Sports) An area in the shape of a trapezoid marked behind the goal line and the goal in ice hockey, where the goalie is allowed to play the puck.

A four-sided figure having only right angles; a right-angled parallelogram.

A (convex) quadrilateral with two (non-adjacent) parallel sides.

Rectangular.

A convex quadrilateral with no sides parallel.

A parallelogram with four right angles

(anatomy) The trapezoid bone of the wrist.

A plane four-sided figure, having two sides parallel to each other.

A bone of the carpus at the base of the second metacarpal, or index finger.

Having the form of a trapezoid; trapezoidal; as, the trapezoid ligament which connects the coracoid process and the clavicle.

Of or pertaining to the trapezoid ligament; as, the trapezoid line.

A quadrilateral with two parallel sides

The wrist bone between the trapezium and the capitate bones