catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Azimuth \Az"i*muth\, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar.
     as-sum?t, 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-r[=a]'s the vertex of the heaven. Cf. Zenith.]
     (Astron. & Geodesy)
        (a) The quadrant of an azimuth circle.
        (b) An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian
            of the place and a vertical circle passing through the
            center of any object; as, the azimuth of a star; the
            azimuth or bearing of a line surveying.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: 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[deg] to 360[deg].
           [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.
        [1913 Webster]

  Azimuth \Az"i*muth\, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar.
     as-sum?t, 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-r[=a]'s the vertex of the heaven. Cf. Zenith.]
     (Astron. & Geodesy)
        (a) The quadrant of an azimuth circle.
        (b) An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian
            of the place and a vertical circle passing through the
            center of any object; as, the azimuth of a star; the
            azimuth or bearing of a line surveying.
  
     Note: 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[deg] to 360[deg].
  
     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.