Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

icosahedron

noun

/ˌaɪ.kəˈsiː.hiː.drən/

Definition

A polyhedron with twenty faces.

Examples

The icosahedron is often used in geometry and art due to its symmetrical properties.
In gaming, the twenty-sided die used in numerous tabletop role-playing games is in the shape of an icosahedron.
The biological structure of some viruses can exhibit an icosahedral symmetry.

Meaning

The term icosahedron is derived from the Greek words ‘eikosi’, meaning ‘twenty’, and ‘hedra’, meaning ‘face’. It is one of the five Platonic solids, characterized by its twenty triangular faces.