geodesic

[ jee-uh-des-ik, -dee-sik ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Also geodesical. pertaining to the geometry of curved surfaces, in which geodesic lines take the place of the straight lines of plane geometry.

geodesic

/ -ˈdiː-; ˌdʒiːəʊˈdɛsɪk /

Also calledgeodesic line the shortest line between two points on a curved or plane surface

geodesic

/ jē′ə-dĕs′ĭk,-dē′sĭk /

A curve that locally minimizes the distance between two points on any mathematically defined space, such as a curved manifold. Equivalently, it is a path of minimal curvature. In noncurved three-dimensional space, the geodesic is a straight line. In General Relativity , the trajectory of a body with negligible mass on which only gravitational forces are acting (i.e. a free falling body) is a geodesic in (curved) 4-dimensional space-time.

From the French word géodésique, dating back to 1815–25. See geodesy, -ic

He has access to more than 4,000 feet of elevated tunnels connecting geodesic domes and large enclosures.

The world line of a ray of light is a geodesic in the continuum.

His experiments on the pendulum and Geodesic surveys rendered him famous.

The orders I have to give are simple: The Fleet will head for home by the most direct possible geodesic.

Browse