horizon

- 7 dictionary results

ho⋅ri⋅zon

[huh-rahy-zuh

–noun

1.	the line or circle that forms the apparent boundary between earth and sky.

Astronomy.

a.	the small circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is tangent to the earth at the position of a given observer, or the plane of such a circle (sensible horizon).

b.	Also called rational horizon. the great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the center of the earth and is parallel to the sensible horizon of a given position, or the plane of such a circle (celestial horizon).

3.	the limit or range of perception, knowledge, or the like.

4.	Usually, horizons. the scope of a person's interest, education, understanding, etc.: His horizons were narrow.

5.	Geology. a thin, distinctive stratum useful for stratigraphic correlation.

6.	any of the series of distinctive layers found in a vertical cross section of any well-developed soil.

Origin:
1540–50; < L horizōn < Gk horízōn (kýklos) bounding (circle), equiv. to horíz(ein) to bound, limit + -ōn prp. suffix (nom. sing.); r. ME orizonte < MF < L horizontem, acc. of horizōn

Synonyms:
4. world, perspective, domain, viewpoint.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To horizon

ho·ri·zon (hə-rī'zən)

The apparent intersection of the earth and sky as seen by an observer. Also called apparent horizon.
Astronomy
1. The sensible horizon.
2. The celestial horizon.
3. The limit of the theoretically possible universe.
4. A specific position in a stratigraphic column, such as the location of one or more fossils, that serves to identify the stratum with a particular period.
5. A specific layer of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross section of land.
The range of one's knowledge, experience, or interest.
Geology
1. A specific position in a stratigraphic column, such as the location of one or more fossils, that serves to identify the stratum with a particular period.
2. A specific layer of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross section of land.
Archaeology A period during which the influence of a specified culture spread rapidly over a defined area: artifacts associated with the Olmec horizon in Mesoamerica.

[Middle English orizon, from Old French, from Latin, from Greek horizōn (kuklos), limiting (circle), horizon, present participle of horizein, to limit, from horos, boundary.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Horizon

Ho*ri"zon\, n. [F., fr. L. horizon, fr. Gr. ? (sc. ?) the bounding line, horizon, fr. ? to bound, fr. ? boundary, limit.]

1. The circle which bounds that part of the earth's surface visible to a spectator from a given point; the apparent junction of the earth and sky.

And when the morning sun shall raise his car Above the border of this horizon. --Shak.

All the horizon round Invested with bright rays. --Milton.

2. (Astron.) (a) A plane passing through the eye of the spectator and at right angles to the vertical at a given place; a plane tangent to the earth's surface at that place; called distinctively the sensible horizon. (b) A plane parallel to the sensible horizon of a place, and passing through the earth's center; -- called also rational or celestial horizon. (c) (Naut.) The unbroken line separating sky and water, as seen by an eye at a given elevation, no land being visible.

3. (Geol.) The epoch or time during which a deposit was made.

The strata all over the earth, which were formed at the same time, are said to belong to the same geological horizon. --Le Conte.

4. (Painting) The chief horizontal line in a picture of any sort, which determines in the picture the height of the eye of the spectator; in an extended landscape, the representation of the natural horizon corresponds with this line.

Apparent horizon. See under Apparent.

Artificial horizon, a level mirror, as the surface of mercury in a shallow vessel, or a plane reflector adjusted to the true level artificially; -- used chiefly with the sextant for observing the double altitude of a celestial body.

Celestial horizon. (Astron.) See def. 2, above.

Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the vertical angle between the sensible horizon and a line to the visible horizon, the latter always being below the former.

Rational horizon, and Sensible horizon. (Astron.) See def. 2, above.

Visible horizon. See definitions 1 and 2, above.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : horizon

Spanish: horizonte,

German: der Horizont,

Japanese: 地平線

More Translations »

horizon

c.1374, from O.Fr. orizon (14c.), earlier orizonte (13c.), from L. horizontem (nom. horizon), from Gk. horizon kyklos "bounding circle," from horizein "bound, limit, divide, separate," from horos "boundary." The h- was restored 17c. in imitation of Latin. Horizontal (1555) originally meant "relating to or near the horizon," later (1638) parallel to it, "flat."

horizon

See time horizon.

horizon (hə-rī'zən) Pronunciation Key

1. The apparent intersection of the Earth and sky as seen by an observer. Also called apparent horizon.
2. See celestial horizon.
3. See sensible horizon.
4. A specific position in a stratigraphic column, such as the location of one or more fossils, that serves to identify the stratum with a particular period.
5. A specific layer of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross-section of land.
Geology
1. A specific position in a stratigraphic column, such as the location of one or more fossils, that serves to identify the stratum with a particular period.
2. A specific layer of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross-section of land.
Archaeology A period during which the influence of a particular culture spread rapidly over a defined area.

horizon

see on the horizon.

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