A vertex is a point where two or more lines, edges, or rays meet, such as a corner of a shape. In 3D shapes, it is a point where edges come together.
From Latin 'vertex', meaning 'highest point, whirl, top of the head', from 'vertere' meaning 'to turn'. The geometric sense developed from the idea of a meeting or peak point.
In math, a vertex is a simple corner, but the original word hinted at swirling and peaks. So every little corner of a triangle secretly shares a name with mountaintops and whirlpools. Geometry is more poetic than it looks.
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