from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vertical \Ver"ti*cal\, a. [Cf. F. vertical. See {Vertex}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Of or pertaining to the vertex; situated at the vertex, or
highest point; directly overhead, or in the zenith;
perpendicularly above one.
[1913 Webster]
Charity . . . is the vertical top of all religion.
--Jer. Taylor.
[1913 Webster]
2. Perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb;
as, a vertical line.
[1913 Webster]
{Vertical angle} (Astron. & Geod.), an angle measured on a
vertical circle, called an angle of elevation, or
altitude, when reckoned from the horizon upward, and of
depression when downward below the horizon.
{Vertical anthers} (Bot.), such anthers as stand erect at the
top of the filaments.
{Vertical circle} (Astron.), an azimuth circle. See under
{Azimuth}.
{Vertical drill}, an upright drill. See under {Upright}.
{Vertical fire} (Mil.), the fire, as of mortars, at high
angles of elevation.
{Vertical leaves} (Bot.), leaves which present their edges to
the earth and the sky, and their faces to the horizon, as
in the Australian species of Eucalyptus.
{Vertical limb}, a graduated arc attached to an instrument,
as a theodolite, for measuring vertical angles.
{Vertical line}.
(a) (Dialing) A line perpendicular to the horizon.
(b) (Conic Sections) A right line drawn on the vertical
plane, and passing through the vertex of the cone.
(c) (Surv.) The direction of a plumb line; a line normal
to the surface of still water.
(d) (Geom., Drawing, etc.) A line parallel to the sides of
a page or sheet, in distinction from a horizontal line
parallel to the top or bottom.
{Vertical plane}.
(a) (Conic Sections) A plane passing through the vertex of
a cone, and through its axis.
(b) (Projections) Any plane which passes through a
vertical line.
(c) (Persp.) The plane passing through the point of sight,
and perpendicular to the ground plane, and also to the
picture.
{Vertical sash}, a sash sliding up and down. Cf. {French
sash}, under 3d {Sash}.
{Vertical steam engine}, a steam engine having the crank
shaft vertically above or below a vertical cylinder.
[1913 Webster]