hexagon
UK[ˈheksəɡən]US[ˈheksəɡɑːn]
n
a flat shape with six straight sides and six angles.
Morpheme Breakdown
hexa
gon
hexa
six
gon
angle
Etymology
the word 'hexagon' is a direct borrowing from late latin 'hexagōnum', which itself originates from greek 'hexagōnon', a neuter form of 'hexagōnos' meaning 'six-angled'. it is a compound of two greek elements: 'hex' (six) and 'gōnia' (angle). this construction follows a classical pattern for naming geometric shapes by specifying the number of angles. the term entered english in the 16th century via latin, retaining its precise geometric meaning for a six-sided polygon.
Analysis
Structure: hexa (six) + gon (angle)
hexa: from greek 'hex', meaning 'six', a numerical prefix. gon: from greek 'gōnia', meaning 'angle' or 'corner', a combining form.
Examples
a honeycomb cell is a perfect example of a regular hexagon.
the designer used a hexagonal tile pattern for the kitchen floor.
each snowflake, while unique, often exhibits a hexagonal symmetry.