[jee-uh-des-ik, -dee-sik] 
| 1. | Also, ge⋅o⋅des⋅i⋅cal. pertaining to the geometry of curved surfaces, in which geodesic lines take the place of the straight lines of plane geometry. |
| 2. | geodesic line. |
| ge·o·des·ic (jē'ə-děs'ĭk, -dē'sĭk) adj.
[From geodesy.] |
| geodesic (jē'ə-děs'ĭk, -dē'sĭk) Pronunciation Key
Noun 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. Adjective Of or relating to the branch of geometry that deals with geodesics. |
əˈdɛs