/ haɪˈpɒtənjuːz; NAmE -ˈpɑːtənuːs; -njuːz/ noun
( geometry ) the side opposite the right angle of a right-angled triangle
—picture at right-angled triangle
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: via Latin hypotenusa from Greek hupoteinousa (grammē) subtending (line), from the verb hupoteinein (from hupo under + teinein stretch).