geodesy

[ jee-od-uh-see ]

noun
  1. the branch of applied mathematics that deals with the measurement of the shape and area of large tracts of country, the exact position of geographical points, and the curvature, shape, and dimensions of the earth.

Origin of geodesy

1
1560–70; <French géodésie<Greek geōdaisía, equivalent to geō-geo- + daí(ein) to divide + -sia, variant of -ia-ia (generalized from stems ending in t)
  • Also ge·o·det·ics [jee-uh-det-iks]. /ˌdʒi əˈdɛt ɪks/.

Other words from geodesy

  • ge·od·e·sist, noun

Words Nearby geodesy

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How to use geodesy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for geodesy

geodesy

geodetics (ˌdʒiːəʊˈdɛtɪks)

/ (dʒɪˈɒdɪsɪ) /


noun
  1. the branch of science concerned with determining the exact position of geographical points and the shape and size of the earth

Origin of geodesy

1
C16: from French géodésie, from Greek geōdaisia, from geo- + daiein to divide

Derived forms of geodesy

  • geodesist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for geodesy

geodesy

[ jē-ŏdĭ-sē ]


  1. The scientific study of the size and shape of the Earth, its field of gravity, and such varying phenomena as the motion of the magnetic poles and the tides.

Other words from geodesy

  • geodetic adjective

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