Isoperimetrical

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to geometric properties that optimize area while minimizing boundary length
2. Characterized by shapes that enclose equal areas using the least possible perimeter
3. Concerning shapes that share the same perimeter measurement while varying in other geometric aspects

Etymology: "Isoperimetrical" is built from two parts: the Greek prefix "iso-", meaning "equal," and "perimetrical," the adjective form of "perimeter," which comes from Greek "perimetros," literally "measure around." Put together, the word describes problems or figures where the perimeter, the distance around a shape, is held fixed while another quantity, usually area, is maximized or compared. The word is a straightforward compound rather than a term with a dramatic backstory. Its meaning follows directly from its parts: a shape that encloses the most area for a given boundary length, or the reverse, is isoperimetric in this sense. The most famous example is the circle, which encloses more area than any other shape with the same perimeter.