ADJACENT

Definition of ADJACENT

ADJACENT Adjective and (less common) Noun

Adjacent is primarily an adjective, though it can also function as a noun in some specialized contexts. As an adjective, it refers to something that is next to or adjoining something else, typically in physical proximity. It is used to describe things that are immediately neighboring or located close to one another.

ADJACENT as an adjective

Next to or Neighboring: When used as an adjective, adjacent indicates that two things are located next to each other or in close proximity. For instance, in real estate, one might say, “The property is adjacent to the park,” meaning that the property is directly next to or near the park. This meaning can apply to both physical objects or areas, such as buildings, rooms, or geographical locations, highlighting their immediate closeness or direct connection.

Close in Position: In geometry and mathematics, adjacent is used to describe angles, sides, or other elements that are next to each other. For example, in a triangle, two sides that meet at a vertex are adjacent to each other. This usage emphasizes the idea of closeness or sharing a boundary or point.

ADJACENT as a noun

Adjacent Area or Space: In some specialized or technical contexts, adjacent can also be used as a noun, referring to the area or space that is next to something else. For example, in urban planning or architecture, one might refer to the adjacent as the space next to a particular structure, or in a classroom, the adjacent may refer to a neighboring room or area.

Adjacency in Urban and Geographic Contexts: In geography or urban planning, adjacent is often used to describe areas or properties that are immediately next to one another. For instance, a city might have adjacent neighborhoods, indicating that these areas are geographically close, often sharing borders. This concept can extend to broader scales as well, such as adjacent countries or regions that are geographically nearby.

Adjacency in Relationships or Associations: While adjacent often refers to physical proximity, it can also be used metaphorically to describe closeness or similarity in terms of relationships or associations. For instance, in business, a company may work with adjacent industries, meaning industries that are closely related but not necessarily identical. This use highlights the connection or closeness in function or operation, even if not directly adjacent in a physical sense.

In conclusion, adjacent is an adjective that denotes physical proximity or closeness, typically used to describe things that are next to each other. Whether referring to buildings, geographic locations, or elements in mathematics, adjacent conveys the idea of things being immediately neighboring. In some cases, it can also function as a noun, referring to the area or space next to something. This term is widely used in fields like geography, architecture, mathematics, and urban planning to describe proximity, making it a key concept in understanding spatial relationships and closeness.

Examples of ADJACENT in a sentence

ADJACENT as an adjective in a sentence

• The adjacent rooms were connected by a door, allowing for easy access between them.
• They built a new shopping mall on the adjacent lot to attract more customers.
• The adjacent areas to the park are home to a variety of restaurants and cafes.
• The two adjacent buildings were designed to complement each other in style and function.
• The hotel offers rooms with an adjacent view of the beach, perfect for a relaxing stay.
• The adjacent streets were blocked off for the annual parade, making traffic a bit difficult.
• The adjacent fields were cultivated with corn, creating a beautiful, sprawling landscape.
• The adjacent neighborhoods are known for their quiet streets and friendly residents.

ADJACENT as a noun in a sentence

• The property owner bought the adjacent to expand the estate and add more space for development.
• He was considering purchasing the adjacent to his business to open a new branch.
• The adjacent was converted into a community garden to bring more green space to the area.
• They built a fence between their lot and the adjacent to create a clear boundary.
• The adjacent were used for parking spaces, accommodating visitors to the office building.
• The new apartment complex had access to the adjacent for additional amenities and shared facilities.
• The adjacent was covered in a dense forest, making it a beautiful, secluded area.
• To make the project larger, they acquired the adjacent properties for future development.

Origin of ADJACENT

The term adjacent has an etymology focused on the concept of being next to or adjoining something.

• Etymological Roots: Adjacent comes from the Latin word “adjacens,” the present participle of “adjacere,” which means “to lie near” or “to be next to.” “Adjacere” is a combination of “ad-” (meaning “to” or “near”) and “jacere” (meaning “to lie” or “to throw”). The word entered English in the late Middle Ages and retained its meaning of something that is next to or adjoining another thing.
• Historical Development: The term adjacent was first used in English in the 15th century to describe something that lies near or beside something else, particularly in physical or spatial contexts. Over time, the use of adjacent expanded to include more abstract or figurative senses, describing things that are near or related in other ways, such as in time, position, or association. By the 17th century, it was being used in various fields, including geography, mathematics, and architecture, to describe things that are next to one another in a physical or conceptual arrangement.
• Cultural and Linguistic Evolution: During the 18th and 19th centuries, the term adjacent became more widely used in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in areas like geometry and cartography, where it referred to elements that were next to each other, such as adjacent angles or adjacent land parcels. The term continued to be used in everyday language to describe things that were physically close to one another, such as rooms, buildings, or streets that are adjacent to one another. Over time, it also came to describe things that are closely connected or related in more figurative contexts, like adjacent concepts or ideas.
• Current Usage: Today, adjacent is most commonly used to describe things that are next to or adjoining one another in space. For example, a house might be located on an adjacent lot, or two rooms might be adjacent to each other. It is also used in a more abstract sense, such as adjacent ideas or topics in a discussion or adjacent events in time. In mathematics, adjacent is often used to describe angles, sides, or elements that are next to each other in a geometric figure.

The term adjacent has evolved from its Latin roots meaning “to lie near” to a widely used descriptor for things that are physically next to or closely related to one another in both literal and figurative contexts.