die Raute, -n
rhombus
Definition & meaning
The word Raute primarily refers to a geometric shape known in English as a rhombus or a diamond. It is a quadrilateral where all four sides have the same length, and opposite sides are parallel.
In addition to its geometric definition, the word has several common uses in daily life:
- The Hash Key (#): In the context of telephones and computer keyboards, the symbol # (hash, pound, or number sign) is called a Raute or Rautentaste.
- Patterns and Heraldry: It describes diamond-shaped patterns often found on flags (such as the coat of arms of Bavaria) or in textile designs.
- The "Merkel-Raute": This is a famous hand gesture associated with the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where the thumbs and index fingers are joined to form a diamond shape.
- Botany: Historically, the word is also the name for the plant rue (Gartenraute), whose leaves or structure inspired the name of the geometric shape.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Gender: Feminine (die)
- Plural: die Rauten
- Genitive: der Raute
Word Origin: The term originates from the Middle High German word rūte, which was derived from the Latin word ruta (referring to the herb "rue"). The connection lies in the diamond-like shape of the plant's leaves or the cross-section of its stem. Over time, the botanical name was adopted into mathematics to describe the specific quadrilateral shape.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Rhombus : The technical mathematical term used interchangeably with Raute.
- Karo : Often used when referring to patterns on clothing or the "diamonds" suit in a deck of cards.
- Doppelkreuz : A more formal or technical term for the hash symbol (#).
- Viereck : A general term for any quadrilateral.
Antonyms:
- Kreis : A circle, which represents the lack of corners and straight edges.
- Quadrat : While a square is technically a special type of Raute (with 90-degree angles), it is often used as a contrast in casual speech to describe a shape with fixed right angles.
- Rechteck : A rectangle, which has four right angles but does not require all sides to be of equal length.
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Examples
Die Raute steht auf dem Papier.noun
The rhombus is on the paper.
In der Mitte liegt eine blaue Raute.noun
In the middle lies a blue rhombus.
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