dīˈaməd.ə(r), -mətə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English diametre, from Middle French, from Latin diametros, from Greek diametros, from dia- + -metros (from metron measure) — more at measure
1.
a. : a chord passing through the center of a figure or body (as a circle, conic section, sphere, cube)
b. : a line that bisects each of a system of parallel chords of a curve
c. : a unit of magnification of microscopic and telescopic observations equal to the number of times the linear dimensions of the object are increased
a magnification of eight diameters means the dimensions are increased in the ratio of 8:1
2.
a. : the length of a straight line through the center of an object : thickness
a tree two feet in diameter at the base of the trunk
a rope one inch in diameter measured at its greatest dimension
b. : the distance through a column at its base used in architecture as a standard measure for all parts of an order — see module
c. : one of the maximal breadths of a part of the body