What does protractor mean?
Word: Protractor
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Protractor means a flat instrument, usually a half circle of clear plastic, used for measuring and drawing angles.
How do you spell protractor?
Syllables: pro - trac - tor
Tricky part: It ends in -or, not -er: protracter is the most common slip.
Watch out for: protracter, protractar
Memory tip: Look at the 0 at the start of a protractor's scale and let it stand for the o in its -or ending.
Protractor in a sentence
Example 1: Place the centre of the protractor exactly on the corner of the angle.
Example 2: My geometry box has a protractor, a compass and two set squares.
Example 3: Asha used her protractor to draw a perfect 45-degree angle.
Fun Fact
The common school protractor is a half circle marked from 0 to 180 degrees; full-circle protractors go all the way to 360.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Pupils use this half-circle tool in geometry to find the size of an angle. Which two parts make its name?
1. pro 2. pre 3. tractor 4. tracktor 5. pra 6. tactor
a) 1 and 6
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 1 and 4
Show answer
b) 1 and 3. Pro joined to tractor builds protractor; pre-, pra-, a ck or a lost r give misspellings.
Word Tally
Each correctly spelt word gets 2 marks. How many marks does this list score?
protractor, compas, devider, sharpner, ruler
a) 8
b) 2
c) 6
d) 4
Show answer
d) 4. Compas, devider and sharpner are wrong (compass, divider, sharpener), so only protractor and ruler score: 4 marks.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. protractor 2. stapler 3. highlighter A. a tool for pressing metal pins through paper B. a tool for finding how wide an angle is C. a pen that marks words in a bright see-through colour
a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
c) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
d) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
Show answer
b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C. Angles need a protractor, papers are pinned with a stapler, and a highlighter brightens words.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these could you draw with a protractor's help?
a) a 60-degree angle
b) a perfect circle
c) a wavy border
d) a map of India
Show answer
a) a 60-degree angle
2. Which reading could a school protractor show?
a) 15 centimetres
b) 30 kilograms
c) 25 minutes
d) 135 degrees
Show answer
d) 135 degrees
