1.
the vertical and horizontal dimensions
the vertical and horizontal dimensions; length and width
縦横十メートルの部屋だ。
It's a room ten meters by ten meters.
道路が縦横に走っている。
Roads run in all directions.
碁盤の目のように縦横に整備された街並みだ。
It's a townscape laid out in a grid like a go board.
2.
freely and without restriction
freely and without restriction; in every direction; to one's heart's content
才能を縦横に発揮する。
To fully demonstrate one's talents.
彼はピッチを縦横に駆け回った。
He ran all over the pitch.
知識を縦横に駆使して問題を解決した。
He solved the problem by making full use of his knowledge.
Has two distinct uses: literal (dimensions, grid layout) and figurative (freely, without restriction). The figurative sense, especially with に, is common in writing about sports, intellectual ability, and creative work. Also read たてよこ in some contexts, but じゅうおう is the standard reading for the figurative sense.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 縦横に駆け回る: to run around freely in all directions
- 縦横に活躍する: to play an active role in every area
- 縦横無尽: inexhaustibly in every direction (four-character compound)
- 縦横に発揮する: to demonstrate fully
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 自由自在: freely, at will — emphasizes effortless mastery
- 縦横無尽: in all directions without limit — stronger four-character form of the figurative sense