orthogonal
Meeting at ninety
Orthogonal means at right angles.
In geometry, orthogonal lines or planes intersect perpendicularly.
The term extends to statistics and mathematics where orthogonal variables or vectors are independent—changing one doesn't affect the other.
In general usage, orthogonal describes things that are unrelated or operate on separate dimensions: That's orthogonal to what we're discussing.
The word signals conceptual independence more precisely than "unrelated" does.
At right angles
- vectorQuantity with direction
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
- linearArranged in straight succession
projection · transformation · eigenvector · subspace · orthonormal · coordinate · axis · plane
Having no link
- separateTo set apart
- distinctClearly distinguishable, separate
- unconnectedNot joined or linked
- nonoverlappingSharing no common area
discrete · divergent · disparate · disjoint · decoupled · compartmentalized · siloed · nonintersecting
Showing striking differences
- complementaryMutually supplying lacks
- alternativeAnother available choice
- perpendicularAt right angles
- cross-cuttingEditing between parallel actions
lateral · tangential · divergent · opposing · counterpoint · multidimensional · varied · reframing
perpendicular
At right angles
- vectorQuantity with direction
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
linear · projection · transformation · eigenvector · subspace · orthonormal · coordinate · axis · plane · dimension
unrelated
Having no link
- separateTo set apart
- distinctClearly distinguishable, separate
- unconnectedNot joined or linked
nonoverlapping · discrete · divergent · disparate · disjoint · decoupled · compartmentalized · siloed · nonintersecting · parallel
contrasting
Showing striking differences
- complementaryMutually supplying lacks
- alternativeAnother available choice
- perpendicularAt right angles
cross-cutting · lateral · tangential · divergent · opposing · counterpoint · multidimensional · varied · reframing · unconventional
- dimensionality reductionPCA, eigenvalues, eigenvector, loading, component
- vectorsvector field, resultant, magnitude, direction, component
- ortho- wordsorthopedic, orthopedics, orthodontics, orthodoxy, orthopedic surgeon
- linear algebramatrix, linear equation, vectors, linear function, matrices
- orientationshorizontal, vertical, diagonal, perpendicular, parallel
- geometryangles, circles, angle, shapes, lines
orthogonalparallel
Equidistant at all points
collinear · coincident · tangent · aligned · oblique
orthodox, rectangular, orthography, orthodontist, orthographic, ortho