Corner vs. Vertex — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
A corner is a point where two lines or surfaces meet, often at a 90-degree angle, while a vertex is a specific corner in geometry, where two or more lines, curves, or edges meet.
Difference Between Corner and Vertex
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A corner can refer to any point where two lines or surfaces meet, not necessarily at right angles, such as the corner of a room. In contrast, a vertex is a precise term in geometry, specifically denoting the meeting point of two or more lines or edges.
In everyday language, corner is often used, like sitting in the corner of a cafe, whereas vertex is typically reserved for mathematical or geometrical contexts, such as the vertex of a triangle.
While a corner can be found in various contexts, including architecture and urban design, a vertex is more often discussed in mathematics, especially in relation to polygons, angles, and shapes.
In terms of angular relationships, a corner doesn't imply any specific angle, but a vertex is often associated with angles formed by intersecting lines or planes in geometry.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Meeting point of two lines or surfaces
Meeting point of two or more lines or edges
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Context Usage
General, everyday use
Mathematical, geometrical use
Angular Implication
No specific angle implied
Often associated with specific angles
Examples in Everyday Life
Corner of a room, street corner
Vertex of a triangle, vertex of a polygon
Linguistic Flexibility
Used in a broader, more flexible sense
Used in a more precise, technical sense
Compare with Definitions
Corner
The point where two lines or surfaces meet.
She placed the lamp in the corner of the room.
Vertex
The point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure.
In an isosceles triangle, the angles at the base are equal to the angle at the vertex.
Corner
A position of difficulty or a tight spot.
The debate put him in a corner, unable to answer.
Vertex
The highest point; the top or apex.
Corner
The position at which two lines, surfaces, or edges meet and form an angle
The four corners of a rectangle.
Vertex
Each angular point of a polygon, polyhedron, or other figure.
Corner
The area enclosed or bounded by an angle formed in this manner
Sat by myself in the corner.
The corner of one's eye.
Vertex
The highest point; the apex or summit
The vertex of a mountain.
Corner
The place where two roads or streets join or intersect.
Vertex
The highest point of the skull.
Corner
(Sports) Any of the four angles of a boxing or wrestling ring where the ropes are joined.
Vertex
The top of the head.
Corner
(Baseball) Either side of home plate, toward or away from the batter.
Vertex
In astrology, the highest point reached in the apparent motion of a celestial body.
Corner
A corner kick in soccer.
Vertex
The point at which the sides of an angle intersect.
Corner
(Football) A cornerback.
Vertex
The point on a triangle or pyramid opposite to and farthest away from its base.
Corner
A threatening or embarrassing position from which escape is difficult
Got myself into a corner by boasting.
Vertex
A point on a polyhedron common to three or more sides.
Corner
A remote, secluded, or secret place
The four corners of the earth.
A beautiful little corner of Paris.
Vertex
A point of maximal curvature on a parabola or hyperbola.
Corner
A part or piece made to fit on a corner, as in mounting or for protection.
Vertex
The highest point, top or apex of something.
Corner
A speculative monopoly of a stock or commodity created by purchasing all or most of the available supply in order to raise its price.
Vertex
(anatomy) The highest surface on the skull; the crown of the head.
Corner
Exclusive possession; monopoly
"Neither party ... has a corner on all the good ideas" (George B. Merry).
Vertex
(geometry) An angular point of a polygon, polyhedron or higher order polytope.
Corner
To place or drive into a corner
Cornered the thieves and captured them.
Vertex
The common point of the two rays that form an angle.
Corner
To form a corner in (a stock or commodity)
Cornered the silver market.
Vertex
The point at which an axis meets a curve or surface.
Corner
To furnish with corners.
Vertex
(mathematics) A point on the curve with a local minimum or maximum of curvature.
Corner
To turn, as at a corner
A truck that corners poorly.
Vertex
(graph theory) One of the elements of a graph joined or not by edges to other vertices.
Corner
To come together or be situated on or at a corner.
Vertex
(computer graphics) A point in 3D space, usually given in terms of its Cartesian coordinates.
Corner
Located at a street corner
A corner drugstore.
Vertex
(optics) The point where the surface of a lens crosses the optical axis.
Corner
Designed for use in a corner
A corner table.
Vertex
(particle physics) An interaction point.
Corner
The point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either external or internal.
The corners of the wire mesh were reinforced with little blobs of solder.
Vertex
(astrology) The point where the prime vertical meets the ecliptic in the western hemisphere of a natal chart.
Corner
The space in the angle between converging lines or walls which meet in a point.
The chimney corner was full of cobwebs.
Vertex
(typography) A sharp downward point opposite a crotch, as in the letters "V" and "W" but not "Y".
Corner
The projection into space of an angle in a solid object.
Herbert bruised his shin on the corner of the coffee table.
Vertex
A turning point; the principal or highest point; top; summit; crown; apex.
Corner
An intersection of two streets; any of the four outer points off the street at that intersection.
The liquor store on the corner also sold lottery tickets.
Vertex
The top, or crown, of the head.
Corner
(attributive) Denoting a premises that is in a convenient local location, notionally, but not necessarily literally, on the corner of two streets.
Corner store, corner deli, corner newsagent
Vertex
The zenith, or the point of the heavens directly overhead.
Corner
An edge or extremity; the part farthest from the center; hence, any quarter or part, or the direction in which it lies.
Shining a light in the dark corners of the mind.
I took a trip out to his corner of town.
Vertex
The point in any figure opposite to, and farthest from, the base; the terminating point of some particular line or lines in a figure or a curve; the top, or the point opposite the base.
Corner
A secret or secluded place; a remote or out of the way place; a nook.
On weekends, Emily liked to find a quiet corner and curl up with a good book.
Vertex
The point of intersection of lines or the point opposite the base of a figure
Corner
An embarrassing situation; a difficulty.
Vertex
The highest point (of something);
At the peak of the pyramid
Corner
A sufficient interest in a salable security or commodity to allow the cornering party to influence prices.
In the 1970s, private investors tried to get a corner on the silver market, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Vertex
A point where lines or edges meet in geometry.
A square has four vertices.
Corner
(heading) Relating to the playing field.
Vertex
The point where two sides of an angle intersect.
The vertex of the angle was marked with a dot.
Corner
(baseball) One of the four vertices of the strike zone.
The pitch was just off the corner, low and outside.
Vertex
The principal or highest point.
His career reached its vertex with that groundbreaking discovery.
Corner
(baseball) First base or third base.
There are runners on the corners with just one out.
Corner
(football) A corner kick.
Corner
(American football) A cornerback.
Corner
(boxing) The corner of the ring, which is where the boxer rests before and during a fight.
Corner
The group of people who assist a boxer during a bout.
Corner
A place where people meet for a particular purpose.
Welcome to our English corner.
Corner
(obsolete) A point scored in a rubber at whist.
Corner
(transitive) To drive (someone or something) into a corner or other confined space.
The cat had cornered a cricket between the sofa and the television stand.
Corner
(transitive) To trap in a position of great difficulty or hopeless embarrassment.
The reporter cornered the politician by pointing out the hypocrisy of his position on mandatory sentencing, in light of the politician's own actions in court.
Corner
(transitive) To put (someone) in an awkward situation.
Corner
To get sufficient command of (a stock, commodity, etc.), so as to be able to manipulate its price.
The buyers attempted to corner the shares of the railroad stock, so as to facilitate their buyout.
It's extremely hard to corner the petroleum market because there are so many players.
Corner
To turn a corner or drive around a curve.
As the stock car driver cornered the last turn, he lost control and spun out.
Corner
To handle while moving around a corner in a road or otherwise turning.
That BMW corners well, but the suspension is too stiff.
Corner
(transitive) To supply with corners.
Corner
The point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either external or internal.
Corner
The space in the angle between converging lines or walls which meet in a point; as, the chimney corner.
Corner
An edge or extremity; the part farthest from the center; hence, any quarter or part.
From the four corners of the earth they come.
Corner
A secret or secluded place; a remote or out of the way place; a nook.
This thing was not done in a corner.
Corner
Direction; quarter.
Sits the wind in that corner!
Corner
The state of things produced by a combination of persons, who buy up the whole or the available part of any stock or species of property, which compels those who need such stock or property to buy of them at their own price; as, a corner in a railway stock.
Corner
A free kick from close to the nearest corner flag post, allowed to the opposite side when a player has sent the ball behind his own goal line.
Corner
To drive into a corner.
Corner
To drive into a position of great difficulty or hopeless embarrassment; as, to corner a person in argument.
Corner
To get command of (a stock, commodity, etc.), so as to be able to put one's own price on it; as, to corner the shares of a railroad stock; to corner petroleum.
Corner
A place off to the side of an area;
He tripled to the rightfield corner
He glanced out of the corner of his eye
Corner
The point where two lines meet or intersect;
The corners of a rectangle
Corner
An interior angle formed be two meeting walls;
A piano was in one corner of the room
Corner
The intersection of two streets;
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Corner
The point where three areas or surfaces meet or intersect;
The corners of a cube
Corner
A small concavity
Corner
A temporary monopoly on a kind of commercial trade;
A corner on the silver market
Corner
A predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible;
His lying got him into a tight corner
Corner
A projecting part that is corner-shaped;
He knocked off the corners
Corner
A remote area;
In many corners of the world they still practice slavery
Corner
(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
Corner
Gain control over;
Corner the gold market
Corner
Force a person or an animal into a position from which he cannot escape
Corner
Turn a corner;
The car corners
Corner
A place or angle where two or more sides or edges converge.
He was standing at the street corner waiting for the bus.
Corner
A remote or secluded space.
They found a quiet corner in the library to study.
Corner
A place where two streets meet.
The coffee shop is located at the corner of Main and Elm.
Common Curiosities
Is vertex used only in geometry?
Primarily, but it can also refer to the highest point in other contexts.
Is corner a common term in everyday language?
Yes, corner is commonly used in everyday language.
Are corners always at 90 degrees?
No, corners can be at various angles, not just 90 degrees.
Does vertex always involve straight lines?
Typically, but it can also involve curved lines, as in the vertex of a parabola.
Can vertex refer to a point in a 3D shape?
Yes, a vertex can refer to a point where edges meet in a 3D shape.
Does corner imply a boundary?
Often, it implies the boundary or edge of something.
Can corner have a metaphorical meaning?
Yes, it can metaphorically mean a difficult situation.
Can vertex refer to the apex of a situation or condition?
Yes, it can metaphorically refer to the highest point of something.
Are all corners vertices?
In geometry, yes, but in general usage, not necessarily.
Can a corner be curved?
Yes, a corner can be curved, as in the corner of a rounded table.
Are vertices always sharp points?
Usually, but in some geometrical shapes, vertices can be rounded.
Can a corner exist in two-dimensional space?
Yes, a corner can exist in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces.
Can the terms corner and vertex be used interchangeably?
In geometric contexts, often, but not in general or broader contexts.
Do corners and vertices play a role in architectural design?
Yes, both are important in architectural design and planning.
Is vertex a term used in graph theory?
Yes, vertex is used in graph theory to denote a node.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
