azimuth

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: az=i=muth

CIDE DICTIONARY

azimuth, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar. as-sumt, pl. of as-samt a way, or perh., a point of the horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith, as being the Arabic article: cf. It. azzimutto, Pg. azimuth, and Ar. samt-al-rā's the vertex of the heaven. Cf. Zenith.].

 The quadrant of an azimuth circle.  [1913 Webster]
" In trigonometrical surveying, it is customary to reckon the azimuth of a line from the south point of the horizon around by the west from 0"  [1913 Webster]

Azimuth circle, or Vertical circle, one of the great circles of the sphere intersecting each other in the zenith and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles. Hutton. -- Azimuth compass, a compass resembling the mariner's compass, but having the card divided into degrees instead of rhumbs, and having vertical sights; used for taking the magnetic azimuth of a heavenly body, in order to find, by comparison with the true azimuth, the variation of the needle. -- Azimuth dial, a dial whose stile or gnomon is at right angles to the plane of the horizon. Hutton. -- Magnetic azimuth, an arc of the horizon, intercepted between the vertical circle passing through any object and the magnetic meridian. This is found by observing the object with an azimuth compass.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

azimuth, n.
1 the angular distance from a north or south point of the horizon to the intersection with the horizon of a vertical circle passing through a given celestial body.
2 the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing.

Derivative

azimuthal adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF azimut f. Arab. as-sumut f. al the + sumut pl. of samt way, direction

THESAURUS

azimuth

Cartesian coordinates, abscissa, aim, altitude, aspect, attitude, bearing, bearings, bent, celestial navigation, compass bearing, compass direction, coordinates, course, current, cylindrical coordinates, dead reckoning, declination, direction, direction line, drift, equator coordinates, exposure, false horizon, fix, frontage, heading, helmsmanship, horizon, inclination, latitude, lay, lee side, lie, line, line of direction, line of march, line of position, longitude, magnetic bearing, navigation, ordinate, orientation, pilotage, piloting, point, polar coordinates, position, position line, quarter, radio bearing, range, relative bearing, right ascension, run, sea line, sensible horizon, set, skyline, steerage, steering, tack, tendency, tenor, track, trend, true bearing, vector, visible horizon, way, weather side

ROGET THESAURUS

azimuth

Horizontality

N horizontality, flatness, level, plane, stratum, dead level, dead flat, level plane, recumbency, lying down, reclination, decumbence, decumbency, discumbency, proneness, accubation, supination, resupination, prostration, azimuth, plain, floor, platform, bowling green, cricket ground, croquet ground, croquet lawn, billiard table, terrace, estrade, esplanade, parterre, table land, plateau, ledge, butte, mesa (plain), level, spirit level, horizontal, level, even, plane, flat, flat as a billiard table, flat as a bowling green, alluvial, calm, calm as a mill pond, smooth, smooth as glass, recumbent, decumbent, procumbent, accumbent, lying, prone, supine, couchant, jacent, prostrate, recubant, horizontally, on one's back, on all fours, on its beam ends.

Direction

N direction, management, managery, government, gubernation, conduct, legislation, regulation, guidance, bossism, legislature, steerage, pilotage, reins, reins of government, helm, rudder, needle, compass, guiding star, load star, lode star, pole star, cynosure, supervision, superintendence, surveillance, oversight, eye of the master, control, charge, board of control, command, premiership, senatorship, director, chair, portfolio, statesmanship, statecraft, kingcraft, queencraft, ministry, ministration, administration, stewardship, proctorship, agency, director, directing, hegemonic, at the helm, at the head of, direction, bearing, course, vector, set, drift, tenor, tendency, incidence, bending, trending, dip, tack, aim, collimation, steering steerage, point of the compass, cardinal points, North East, South, West, N by E, ENE, NE by N, NE, rhumb, azimuth, line of collimation, line, path, road, range, quarter, line of march, alignment, allignment, air line, beeline, straight shoot, directed, directed towards, pointing towards, bound for, aligned, with alligned with, direct, straight, undeviating, unswerving, straightforward, North, Northern, Northerly, towards, on the road, on the high road to, en avant, versus, to, hither, thither, whither, directly, straight as an arrow, forwards as an arrow, point blank, in a bee line to, in a direct line to, as the crow flies, in a straight line to, in a bee line for, in a direct line for, in a straight line for, in a bee line with, in a direct line with, in a straight line with, in a line with, full tilt at, as the crow flies, before the wind, near the wind, close to the wind, against the wind, windwards, in the wind's eye, through, via, by way of, in all directions, in all manner of ways, quaquaversum, from the four winds, the shortest distance between two points is a stra.