vertical

/ˈvʌrdəkəl/

/ˈvʌtɪkəl/

Other forms: verticals

Vertical describes something that rises straight up from a horizontal line or plane. A telephone pole or a tree can usually be described as vertical in relation to the ground.

The walls of your house — unless there's some terrible problem — are vertical. They rise straight up from the foundation, at a ninety degree angle. When you're standing up, you're vertical, as opposed to when you lie down in a horizontal position on the couch. The terms vertical and horizontal often describe directions: a vertical line goes up and down, and a horizontal line goes across. You can remember which direction is vertical by the letter, "v," which points down.

Definitions of vertical

1. adjective

   at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
   “a vertical camera angle”

   “the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab”

   synonyms: perpendicular

   steep

   having a sharp inclination

   plumb

   exactly vertical

   upended

   turned up on end

   unsloped, upright

   in a vertical position; not sloping

   straight

   having no deviations

   antonyms:

   horizontal

   parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line

   inclined

   at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position

   gradual

   (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt

   crosswise

   in the shape of (a horizontal piece on) a cross

   flat

   horizontally level

   level

   being on a precise horizontal plane

   naiant, swimming

   applied to a fish depicted horizontally

   atilt, canted, leaning, tilted, tipped

   departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

   aslant, aslope, diagonal, slanted, slanting, sloped, sloping

   having an oblique or slanted direction

   high-pitched

   set at a sharp or high angle or slant

   low-pitched

   set at a low angle or slant

   monoclinal

   of a geological structure in which all strata are inclined in the same direction

   pitched

   set at a slant

   salient

   represented as leaping (rampant but leaning forward)

   sidelong

   inclining or directed to one side

   skew, skewed

   having an oblique or slanting direction or position

   oblique

   slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled
2. adjective

   upright in position or posture
   “a column still vertical amid the ruins”

   synonyms: erect, upright

   erectile

   capable of being raised to an upright position

   fastigiate

   having clusters of erect branches (often appearing to form a single column)

   orthostatic

   pertaining to an upright standing posture

   passant

   in walking position with right foreleg raised

   rampant, rearing

   rearing on left hind leg with forelegs elevated and head usually in profile

   semi-climbing

   of plants that are semi-climbers

   semi-erect

   of plants that are partly erect

   semi-upright

   of animals that are partly erect

   standing

   having a supporting base

   stand-up

   requiring a standing position

   statant

   standing on four feet

   straight, unbent, unbowed

   erect in posture
3. adjective

   of or relating to different levels in a hierarchy (as levels of social class or income group)
   “vertical social mobility”

   synonyms:

   hierarchal, hierarchic, hierarchical

   classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers
4. adjective

   relating to or involving all stages of a business from production to distribution
5. noun

   a vertical structural member as a post or stake
   synonyms: upright

   types:

   column, pillar

   (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

   jamb

   upright consisting of a vertical side member of a door or window frame

   post

   an upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position

   scantling, stud

   an upright in house framing

   scape, shaft

   (architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column

   stile

   an upright that is a member in a door or window frame

   atlas, telamon

   a figure of a man used as a supporting column

   bitt, bollard

   a strong post (as on a wharf or quay or ship for attaching mooring lines)

   carrick bitt

   either of a pair of strong posts that support a windlass on a ship's deck

   caryatid

   a supporting column carved in the shape of a person

   corner post

   a square post supporting a structural member at the corner of a building

   doorjamb, doorpost

   a jamb for a door

   gatepost

   either of two posts that bound a gate

   goalpost

   one of a pair of posts (usually joined by a crossbar) that are set up as a goal at each end of a playing field

   hitching post

   a fixed post with a ring to which a horse can be hitched to prevent it from straying

   hop pole

   a tall pole to support the wires on which the hop plant is trained

   king post

   post connecting the crossbeam to the apex of a triangular truss

   lamppost

   a metal post supporting an outdoor lamp (such as a streetlight)

   maypole

   a vertical pole or post decorated with streamers that can be held by dancers celebrating May Day

   newel

   the central pillar of a circular staircase

   newel, newel post

   the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs; it supports the handrail

   pilaster

   a rectangular column that usually projects about a third of its width from the wall to which it is attached

   pile, piling, spile, stilt

   a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure

   queen post

   vertical tie post in a roof truss

   rudderpost, rudderstock

   a vertical post at the forward edge of a rudder that enables the rudder to pivot

   stake

   a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end so it can be driven into the ground

   stanchion

   any vertical post or rod used as a support

   standard

   an upright pole or beam (especially one used as a support)

   stump

   (cricket) any of three upright wooden posts that form the wicket

   support column

   a column that supports a heavy weight

   telegraph pole, telegraph post, telephone pole

   tall pole supporting telephone wires

   timber

   a post made of wood

   whipping post

   post formerly used in public to which offenders are tied to be whipped

   type of:

   structural member

   support that is a constituent part of any structure or building
6. noun

   something that is oriented vertically
   type of:

   orientation

   position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions