Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The term "diameter" has multiple meanings, primarily in mathematics and physics. In mathematics, a diameter is a straight line segment that passes through the center of a circle or other figure, connecting two points on its boundary. It is also used to refer to the length of this line segment. For a circle, the diameter is twice the length of its radius. In physics, "diameter" can indicate magnification by a lens or optical system, specifying how much an object is enlarged. The abbreviation "diam" is also used for diameter.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. circle
  2. diameter
  3. diam

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.