I. an ‧ gle 1 S3 W3 /ˈæŋɡ ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin angulus ]
1 . the space between two straight lines or surfaces that join each other, measured in degrees
an angle of something
an angle of 45°
angle of
the angles of a triangle
You didn’t measure the angle accurately.
angle between
the angle between walls and ceiling
⇨ ↑ right angle
2 . a way of considering a problem or situation:
We’re approaching the issue from many different angles.
Look at every angle of the situation.
angle to
There’s another angle to this question.
3 . a position from which you look at something or photograph it
from a ... angle
This drawing of the monastery was done from an unusual angle.
Some of the pictures have strange camera angles.
4 . at an angle leaning to one side and not straight or upright:
The portrait was hanging at an angle.
at a slight/steep angle
The sign leaned over at a slight angle.
5 . the shape formed when two lines or surfaces join
angle of
My head struck the angle of the shelf.
II. angle 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ angle 1 ]
[ Origin: angle for 1400-1500 From angle 'fishhook' (11-19 centuries) , from Old English angel ]
1 . to move or place something so that it is not straight or upright:
a mirror angled to reflect light from a window
Philip angled his chair towards the door.
2 . to present information from a particular point of view or for a specific group of people:
The book is angled towards a business audience.
angle for something phrasal verb
to try to get something you want without asking directly for it:
She was obviously angling for an invitation.
I didn’t want him to think I was just angling for sympathy.