Circles: Special Segments in Circles

Chords

A chord of a circle is a line segment connecting any point on the circle to any other point on the circle.


Take a look at the circle below.

Circle with chord AB, chord PQ and chord XY; Chord XY is also a diameter
Circle with Chords

Notice that line segments AB, PQ, and XY all connect two points on the circle.  All three of these segments are called chords.  Notice also, that line segment XY is a diameter.  Diameters are chords that pass through the center of the circle.