Illustration of rhomboid
rhomboid
1 of 2noun
rhom·boid ˈräm-ˌbȯid 
: a parallelogram with no right angles and with adjacent sides of unequal length
rhomboid
2 of 2adjective
rhom·boid ˈräm-ˌbȯid
variants or rhomboidal
räm-ˈbȯi-dᵊl
: shaped somewhat like a rhombus or rhomboid
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Rhomboids, like triangles, may take various different shapes, but they always look like a lopsided diamond or rectangle. As both a noun and an adjective, rhomboid can be applied to anything with those shapes, such as certain muscles of the upper back when viewed from behind. Whenever you hear about rhomboid exercises, rhomboid strain, or rhomboid pain, it involves those muscles, which attach your shoulder blades to your spine and can be strained by carrying a heavy backpack, serving a tennis ball, or just slumping in your chair in front of a computer all day.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon-erik Kawamoto, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2019 Even their origin story has seemed uncertain since the 1997 discovery of a prehistoric Indonesian cave painting of what appears to be a floating rhomboid. New York Times, 29 Sep. 2021 The iconic John Hancock Tower, a 62-story rhomboid sheathed in mirrored glass that reflects the sky and the buildings around it, was once deemed to be at risk of literally falling down. BostonGlobe.com, 25 June 2021 His 237,000-square-foot translucent glass construction features terrazzo details and a curve used by Mies in the original building, while its striking rhomboid shape corresponds to the street edges. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 23 Oct. 2020 That's because strengthening your back muscles—think your lats, rhomboids, and traps—help improve muscle imbalances and posture. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 3 Apr. 2020 Kids can build an infinite number of designs using just five triangles, one square and one rhomboid. cleveland, 16 Mar. 2020 Most of the muscles that people really need to strength-train — hamstrings, glutes, lower back, rhomboids, triceps — are not really worked during rock climbing. Kate Dwyer, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2019 Lat Pull with Arm Rotation Lat pulls work your lats, mid traps, and rhomboids, says Braithwaite. Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 5 Oct. 2018 Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Oct. 2019 McIlroy said the injury is to a rhomboid muscle on the left side of his body. Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, 13 Aug. 2017 McIlroy, 28, punctuated a quiet week with a 68, his first sub-70 round of the tournament, and then said a lingering rib injury — a spasming left rhomboid muscle, to be precise — could sideline him indefinitely. Karen Crouse, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2017 See More
Noun
To strengthen the rotator cuff, middle trapezius and rhomboid muscles HOW: Hold an exercise band with an underhand grip with your elbows bent to 90-degrees. Jon-erik Kawamoto, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2019 Even their origin story has seemed uncertain since the 1997 discovery of a prehistoric Indonesian cave painting of what appears to be a floating rhomboid. New York Times, 29 Sep. 2021 The iconic John Hancock Tower, a 62-story rhomboid sheathed in mirrored glass that reflects the sky and the buildings around it, was once deemed to be at risk of literally falling down. BostonGlobe.com, 25 June 2021 His 237,000-square-foot translucent glass construction features terrazzo details and a curve used by Mies in the original building, while its striking rhomboid shape corresponds to the street edges. Leena Kim, Town & Country, 23 Oct. 2020 That's because strengthening your back muscles—think your lats, rhomboids, and traps—help improve muscle imbalances and posture. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 3 Apr. 2020 Kids can build an infinite number of designs using just five triangles, one square and one rhomboid. cleveland, 16 Mar. 2020 Most of the muscles that people really need to strength-train — hamstrings, glutes, lower back, rhomboids, triceps — are not really worked during rock climbing. Kate Dwyer, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2019 Lat Pull with Arm Rotation Lat pulls work your lats, mid traps, and rhomboids, says Braithwaite. Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 5 Oct. 2018 Adjective
Rest is the initial plan for outfielder Max Kepler, who missed much of September because of a rhomboid strain — although Falvey said that Kepler will see a specialist. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Oct. 2019 McIlroy said the injury is to a rhomboid muscle on the left side of his body. Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, 13 Aug. 2017 McIlroy, 28, punctuated a quiet week with a 68, his first sub-70 round of the tournament, and then said a lingering rib injury — a spasming left rhomboid muscle, to be precise — could sideline him indefinitely. Karen Crouse, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle French rhomboïde, from Latin rhomboides, from Greek rhomboeidēs resembling a rhombus, from rhombos
First Known Use
Noun
1570, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1681, in the meaning defined above