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. Derivatives: azimuthal adj. Etymology: ME f. OF azimut f. Arab. as-sumut f. al the + sumut pl. of samt way, direction
azimuth
ˈæzɪməθ 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. øøazimuthal adj. [ME f. OF azimut f. Arab. as-sumut
f. al the + sumut pl. of samt way, direction]
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.
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