Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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| a theory that deduces a cataclysmic birth of the universe from the observed expansion of the universe, cosmic background radiation, abundance of the elements, and the laws of physics |
| the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, such as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off |
| declination (ˌdɛklɪˈneɪʃən) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | astronomy δ, Compare: right ascension the angular distance, esp in degrees, of a star, planet, etc, from the celestial equator measured north (positive) or south (negative) along the great circle passing through the celestial poles and the body |
| 2. | See magnetic declination |
| 3. | a refusal, esp a courteous or formal one |
| decli'national | |
| —adj | |
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declination
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declination dec·li·na·tion (děk'lə-nā'shən)
n.
A bending, sloping, or other deviation from a normal vertical position.
A deviation of the vertical meridian of the eye to one or the other side due to rotation of the eyeball about its anteroposterior axis.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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declination  (děk'lə-nā'shən) Pronunciation Key
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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declination
in astronomy, the angular distance of a body north or south of the celestial equator. Declination and right ascension, an east-west coordinate, together define the position of an object in the sky. North declination is considered positive and south, negative. Thus, +90 declination marks the north celestial pole, 0 the celestial equator, and -90 the south celestial pole. The usual symbol for declination is the lowercase Greek letter delta (delta).
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