third dimension
Beyond flat surfaces
The third dimension is depth, which combines with height and width to give objects their spatial presence in the physical world.
While a flat surface like a painting exists in two dimensions, a sculpture or any real object occupies three-dimensional space.
The phrase also appears figuratively to suggest added depth or complexity: The subplot gave the story a third dimension.
In entertainment, films and attractions described as 3-D create the illusion of depth through special projection techniques.
Third Cartesian line
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
- EuclideanFlat-space geometry type
- axisRotation reference line
plane · point · solid · cube · sphere · cylinder · cone · prism
Distance below surface
- hologram3D image from light
- stereoscopicProducing depth perception
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
- augmented realityVirtual elements on real surroundings
CGI · rendering · animation · immersive · avatar · anaglyph · voxel · polygon
Distance below surface
- complexityState of being complicated
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- layerSingle thickness of material
- profundityIntellectual or emotional depth
insight · richness · subtlety · deeper meaning · intricacy · perspective · unexplored · revelation
z-axis
Third Cartesian line
- CartesianOf x-y coordinate geometry
- coordinatesLocation-specifying number pairs
- EuclideanFlat-space geometry type
axis · plane · point · solid · cube · sphere · cylinder · cone · prism · polyhedron
depth
Distance below surface
- hologram3D image from light
- stereoscopicProducing depth perception
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
augmented reality · CGI · rendering · animation · immersive · avatar · anaglyph · voxel · polygon · mesh
depth
Distance below surface
- complexityState of being complicated
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- layerSingle thickness of material
profundity · insight · richness · subtlety · deeper meaning · intricacy · perspective · unexplored · revelation
- dimensionsone-dimensional, zero-dimensional, two-dimensional, four-dimensional, multi-dimensional
- threestrio, triad, triple, triplet, trinity
third dimension2D
Two-dimensional
two-dimensional · flatness · flat · depthless · planar
third dimensionon paper
In theory only
flat surface · flatland · picture plane · flat screen · depthless
third, dimension, thirds, multidimensional, three-dimensional, dimensionless, dimensionality