What are Geometric Shapes?

Shapes can be either two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) areas, with height, length, or width but no depth. They can be defined in 2 ways:

1. By an outline
2. Through contrast with its surroundings, whether by comparison or tone

Shapes can be:

• Organic, meaning they are naturally produced, like fruits, vegetables, snowflakes, and honeycombs.
• Geometric, meaning they are mathematically created, like circles and squares.

Geometric shapes have straight lines, angles, and points. There are no gaps between the lines that make these shapes. Round shapes are the only geometric shapes that are the exception to this because they have no sides, no straight lines, and no points.

Think about a point having no dimension (no length, width, height, or depth) and a line being a one-dimensional shape. Both the point and line form the base of geometry. An angle is formed when two lines meet together and make a point. The point is the vertex (vertices if more than one, like in a square). So 2D and 3D shapes are made using points, lines, and angles, aside from round ones.

In plane geometry, 2D shapes are flat and closed figures, like triangles, rectangles, kites, and hexagons. In contrast, in solid geometry, 3D shapes aren’t flat and include shapes like spheres, cylinders, cubes, and cones.

2D Geometric Shapes

Here are some geometric shapes that are also 2D shapes:

3D Shapes

Here are some geometric shapes that are also 3D shapes: