I. |hȯrə|zänt ə l, |här- adjective
Etymology: Late Latin horizont-, horizon + English -al
1.
a. : of, relating to, or situated near the horizon
b. : parallel to the horizon : being on a level : flat
a horizontal line
a horizontal surface
c. : measured or contained in a plane of the horizon
horizontal distance
d. : placed or operating chiefly along a plane parallel to the horizon — used especially of machines and mechanical devices
a horizontal escapement
e. botany : situated in a plane at a right angle to the plane of the primary axis
horizontal branches
f. of a stamp : having a rectangular shape with the longer sides forming the top and bottom
2.
a. : applied equally or uniformly to all individuals in a group : overall , general
horizontal rate increases
demands for horizontal slashing of local government costs — O.K.Armstrong
the increased horizontal spread of buying power — Bud Wilson
b. : relating to, uniting, or consisting of individuals of similar type or on the same level: as
(1) : consisting of two or more economic units on the same level of production or distribution
his gigantic horizontal and vertical combination of business ventures is efficiently run — Claire Sterling
a horizontal merger
(2) : of, relating to, or comprising persons of similar status
a union made up of meat cutters or railroad engineers … would be considered horizontal — J.F.Cuber
it must be … horizontal , in the sense of uniting students of similar ages — General Education in a Free Society
horizontal strata … based upon the social values that are attached to occupation, education, place of residence in the community, and associations — August Hollingshead
(3) : relating to the motion of a succession of musical notes or tones forming a melodic line or part
• hor·i·zon·tal·ly - ə lē, - ə li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: something that is horizontal ; especially : a horizontal line
the mood of quiet is emphasized by the horizontals of the lake — S.M.Green