In geometry, a parallelepiped is a three-dimensional figure formed by six parallelograms (the term rhomboid is also sometimes used with this meaning). By analogy, it relates to a parallelogram just as a cube relates to a square or as a cuboid to a rectangle. In Euclidean geometry, its definition encompasses all four concepts (i.e., parallelepiped, parallelogram, cube, and square). In this context of affine geometry, in which angles are not differentiated, its definition admits only parallelograms and parallelepipeds. Three equivalent definitions of parallelepiped are
The rectangular cuboid (six rectangular faces), cube (six square faces), and the rhombohedron (six rhombus faces) are all specific cases of parallelepiped.
"Parallelepiped" is now usually pronounced /ˌpærəlɛlᵻˈpɪpɛd/, /ˌpærəlɛlᵻˈpaɪpɛd/, or /-pᵻd/; traditionally it was /ˌpærəlɛlˈɛpᵻpɛd/ PARR-ə-lel-EP-i-ped in accordance with its etymology in Greek παραλληλ-επίπεδον, a body "having parallel planes".