Widths

Widths denote the extent of an object across its horizontal dimension, measured from one side to the opposite side. The concept is contextual and used in geometry, design, engineering, and everyday description. In two-dimensional figures such as rectangles, the width is one of the principal dimensions, alongside height. For a circle, width is commonly taken as the diameter, the maximum distance across the shape.

Measurement and units: Width is expressed in standard units such as meters, centimeters, inches, millimeters, or pixels in digital contexts. The width of a display or image is defined by its horizontal pixel count. In typography and page layout, a related idea is the measure or line length, which affects readability and line breaks. Width also refers to the outer dimension of fabrics, components, or garments, impacting fit and compatibility.

Standards and variation: Widths are specified with tolerances in engineering and manufacturing to ensure parts fit together. In textiles, fabric width influences material usage and cutting layouts. In transportation and architecture, road width and track gauge define capacity and safety margins. Because many objects have irregular shapes, width can vary along the length, making sectional or average measurements necessary.

Examples and notes: The area of a rectangle equals width times height. In digital media, image width scales with display resolution. The plural widths usually refer to different width measurements of multiple items, or to a single object's width at different positions along its length.