Geometric shapes are figures or forms with specific boundaries created by points, lines, and curves. They are the basic building blocks of geometry and can be used to describe objects in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) spaces.
These shapes are characterized by their uniform properties and are often used in mathematics, art, architecture, and various design fields to describe and analyze physical spaces and structures.
In this article, we will talk about all geometric shapes with names.
1- 2D Shapes (Two-Dimensional Shapes)
2D shapes lie flat on a plane and have only length and width. Here are some common 2D geometric shapes and names:
- Circle: A round shape where all points are equidistant from the center.
- Square: A four-sided shape with equal sides and four right angles.
- Triangle: A polygon with three sides and three angles.
- Rectangle: A four-sided shape with opposite sides equal and four right angles.
- Ellipse: An elongated circle, also known as an oval.
- Oval: Similar to an ellipse but more egg-shaped.
- Trapezoid (US) / Trapezium (UK): A four-sided shape with at least one pair of parallel sides.
- Rhombus: A diamond-shaped figure with all sides equal in length.
- Pentagon: A five-sided polygon.
- Hexagon: A six-sided polygon.
- Heptagon: A seven-sided polygon.
- Octagon: An eight-sided polygon.
2- 3D Shapes (Three-Dimensional Shapes)
3D shapes have depth, length, and width, making them solid figures that occupy space. Here are some common 3D geometric shapes and names
- Cube: A shape with six equal square faces.
- Sphere: A perfectly round shape, like a ball, where every point on the surface is equidistant from the center.
- Cylinder: A shape with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface.
- Cone: A shape with a circular base that tapers smoothly to a point.
- Pyramid: A shape with a polygonal base and triangular faces converging to a single point.
- Rectangular Prism: A three-dimensional shape with six rectangular faces, also known as a cuboid.
- Frustum: A cone or pyramid with the top cut off parallel to the base.
3- Complex Geometric Shapes Names
Complex geometric shapes go beyond the basic figures and often involve intricate structures, more sides, or unique properties. Here are some examples of different geometric shapes and their names:
- Hexagram: A six-pointed star, commonly known as the Star of David.
- Heptagram: A seven-pointed star.
- Octagram: An eight-pointed star.
- Paraboloid: A surface is generated by rotating a parabola around its axis.
- Rhombohedron: A polyhedron whose faces are all rhombuses.
- Compound Polyhedron: A shape that consists of multiple interlocking polyhedra.
- Gyroelongated Bicupola: A polyhedron with two domes joined together and elongated.
- Snub Polyhedron: A polyhedron with twisted faces, creates a chiral structure.
- Catalan Solid: A type of polyhedron with faces that are congruent non-regular polygons.
- Kepler-Poinsot Polyhedron: A type of non-convex regular polyhedron.
- Hypercube (Tesseract): A four-dimensional analog of a cube.
4- Unique geometric shapes
- Torus: A doughnut-shaped surface is generated by rotating a circle around an axis outside the circle.
- Dodecahedron: A polyhedron with twelve flat faces, typically pentagonal.
- Icosahedron: A polyhedron with twenty triangular faces.
- Tetrahedron: A polyhedron with four triangular faces; also known as a pyramid.
- Frustum: A cone or pyramid with the top cut off parallel to the base.
- Ellipsoid: A three-dimensional shape, similar to an elongated sphere, defined by three axes of different lengths.
- Rhombic Dodecahedron: A polyhedron with twelve rhombic faces.
- Stellated Polyhedron: A polyhedron with extended faces that form star-like shapes.
- Hyperboloid: A surface generated by rotating a hyperbola around one of its principal axes, creating a saddle-like shape.
- Mobius Strip: A surface with only one side and one edge, is created by twisting a strip of paper and connecting the ends.
Geometric shapes are essential in understanding the spatial relationships and properties of objects. They are categorized into 2D shapes, which lie flat on a plane, and 3D shapes, which have depth and occupy space. Recognizing and understanding these shapes is fundamental in various fields such as mathematics, engineering, architecture, and design.
We hope you had a good read!!
FAQs:
1- What are the 7 basic geometric forms?
The seven basic geometric forms are fundamental shapes that serve as the building blocks for more complex figures. They include:
- Circle
- Square
- Triangle
- Rectangle
- Oval (Ellipse)
- Pentagon
- Hexagon
2- What are 4 basic geometric shapes?
The four basic geometric shapes, often taught in early education, are: circle, square, triangle and rectangle
3- What are the 8 types of geometry?
Geometry is a broad field with several specialized branches. Here are eight types of geometry:
- Euclidean Geometry
- Non-Euclidean Geometry
- Analytic Geometry
- Differential Geometry
- Algebraic Geometry
- Topology
- Projective Geometry
- Discrete Geometry
4- Do geometric shapes have names?
Yes, geometric shapes have specific names that help identify and describe their properties. These names are based on the number of sides, angles, or particular characteristics of the shapes. For example:
- Circle
- Square
- Triangle
- Rectangle
- Pentagon
- Hexagon
- Cube
- Sphere
