Honors Geometry Circle Vocabulary Mrs.Horn WCHS

Arc

A connected part of a circle

Arc Length

The length of an arc (in inches, centimeters, feet, etc.) is the distance from one of the arc’s endpoints to the arc’s other endpoint, measured around the circle

Arc Measure

The measure in degrees of an arc’s central angle

Central Angle

An angle with its vertex at the center of a circle

Chord

A line segment with its endpoints on a circle. A chord that passes through the center is called a diameter

Circle

The set of all points on a flat surface that are the same distance from a fixed point

Diameter

A line segment drawn through the center of a circle with both endpoints on the circle

Inscribed Angle

An angle with its vertex on the circle and sides intersecting the circle at two distinct points

Inscribed Circle

A circle is inscribed in a polygon if each side of the polygon intersects the circle at exactly one point

Inscribed Polygon

A polygon inscribed in a circle if each vertex of the polygon lies on the circle

Intercepted Arc

The arc of a circle bounded by the points where the two sides of an inscribed angle meet the circle

Major Arc

An arc with a measure greater than 180 degrees. Each major arc has a corresponding minor arc that has a measure that is less than 180 degrees

Minor Arc

An arc with measure less than 180 degrees. Each minor arc has a corresponding major arc that has a measure that is more than 180 degrees

Secant

A line that intersects a circle at two distinct points

Semicircle

In a circle, a semicircle is an arc with endpoints that are endpoints of any diameter of the circle

Tangent

A line of the same flat surface as a circle that intersects the circle in exactly one point