pentagon

/'pentəgən/

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Explanation of the Word "Pentagon"

Definition: The word "pentagon" is a noun that has two main meanings:

Usage Instructions:

• When talking about shapes, you can use "pentagon" to describe any five-sided figure.
• When referring to the U.S. military headquarters, capitalize the word "Pentagon."

Examples:

1. Geometry Use:

   • "The shape of a baseball diamond is similar to a pentagon."

2. Government Building Use:

   • "The Pentagon is located in Arlington, Virginia, and is an important symbol of the U.S. military."

Advanced Usage:

• In Geometry: You can refer to different types of pentagons, such as regular pentagons (where all sides and angles are equal) or irregular pentagons (where sides and angles are not equal).
• In Politics: The term "the Pentagon" can also refer to the U.S. military leadership and decisions made by the Department of Defense.

Word Variants:

• Pentagonal (adjective): This describes something that has the shape of a pentagon.
  • Example: "The design of the new building is pentagonal."

Different Meanings:

• In mathematics, a pentagon refers only to the shape.
• In political contexts, "the Pentagon" can symbolize U.S. military power or decisions.

Synonyms:

• For the shape: Five-sided figure, five-gon (less common).
• For the building: There are no direct synonyms, but you might hear phrases like "Department of Defense headquarters."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "pentagon," but you may encounter phrases like "the Pentagon Papers," which refers to a famous political scandal involving leaked documents about the Vietnam War.

Academic

Noun

1. a five-sided polygon
2. the United States military establishment
3. a government building with five sides that serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense

Synonyms

• pentagon