non-planar quadrilateral
nounUK /nɒn ˈpleɪnə ˌkwɒdrɪˈlætərəl/
US /nɑːn ˈpleɪnər ˌkwɑːdrɪˈlætərəl/
A shape with four straight sides that does not lie flat on one surface.
The kite frame bent into a non-planar quadrilateral when the wind pushed its corners in different directions.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A four-sided figure whose corners are not all in the same plane, often studied in 3D geometry.
The engineer modeled the bent panel as a non-planar quadrilateral to calculate its stress.
3. A quadrilateral used in computer graphics to describe a surface patch that is slightly warped.
The renderer split each non-planar quadrilateral into two triangles for smoother shading.
4. A four-point linkage in mechanics whose joints do not move within a single plane.
The robot arm used a non-planar quadrilateral linkage to reach around obstacles.