Width of a circle crossword

Solving the "Width of a Circle" Crossword Puzzle

Crossword puzzles give a pleasant but exacting way to test what we already know and to add new words to our vocabulary. We now look at the clue "Width of a circle" plus at the answer that has been suggested.

Understanding the Clue

What is the "Width" of a Circle?

In plain speech the "width" of a circle is its diameter. The diameter is a straight line that passes through the center and touches the rim at both ends. It shows the distance straight across the circle but also is the normal way to say how big the circle is.

Crossword Clues and Potential Answers

In crossword puzzles, the clue "Width of a circle" almost always points to the word "diameter." A diameter is the straight line distance that passes through the centre of a circle and touches the rim on opposite sides - it therefore measures the circle at its widest point. Because it is the simplest way to state how wide a circle is, the term appears regularly as the intended solution.

Verifying the Suggested Answer

Checking the Database

The answer listed in an American quick crossword source is "DIAMETER." The term matches the clue exactly plus fits the standard geometric definition - it is almost certainly correct.

Other Answers That Might Fit

Although “diameter” is the usual reply, it is worth looking at a few other words. Each of the following gives a different way to measure or mark the circle - any of them could appear in a puzzle grid.

• Radius - the length from the dead centre to the rim.
• Circumference - the full distance once around the rim.
• Perimeter - the same full distance around the rim expressed in general terms.
• Chord - a straight line that touches the rim at both ends but does not pass through the centre.

Conclusion

To settle the clue “Width of a circle”, the expected word is “diameter”: the straight line that runs through the centre and stops at opposite points on the rim. The answer DIAMETER fits the clue and the available squares. If any doubt remains, the crossword editors will help.