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geodesic - 6 dictionary results

ge⋅o⋅des⋅ic

[jee-uh-des-ik, -dee-sik]
–adjective
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.
–noun
2. geodesic line.

Origin:
1815–25; < F géodésique. See geodesy, -ic
ge·o·des·ic   (jē'ə-děs'ĭk, -dē'sĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to the geometry of geodesics.
  2. Of or relating to geodesy.
n.  The shortest line between two points on any mathematically defined surface.

[From geodesy.]

Geodesic

Ge`o*des"ic\ (j[=e]`[-o]*d[e^]s"[i^]k), Geodesical \Ge`o*des"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal), a. [Cf. F. g['e]od['e]sique.] (Math.) Of or pertaining to geodesy; geodetic.

Geodesic

Ge`o*des"ic\, n. A geodetic line or curve.

geodesic 
1821, from geodesy "surveying" (1570), from Gk. geodaisia "division of the earth," ult. from ge "earth, land" + daiein "divide."
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.
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