[thee-od-l-ahyt] 
| 1. | Surveying. a precision instrument having a telescopic sight for establishing horizontal and sometimes vertical angles. Compare transit (def. 6). |
| 2. | phototheodolite. |
[thee-od-l-it-ik] , adjective | the·od·o·lite (thē-ŏd'l-īt') n. An optical instrument consisting of a small mounted telescope rotatable in horizontal and vertical planes, used to measure angles in surveying, meteorology, and navigation. [New Latin theodolitus, theodelitus.] the·od'o·lit'ic (-lĭt'ĭk) adj. |
| theodolite (thē-ŏd'l-īt') Pronunciation Key
An optical instrument used to measure angles in surveying, meteorology, and navigation. In meteorology, it is used to track the motion of a weather balloon by measuring its elevation and azimuth angle. The earliest theodolite consisted of a small mounted telescope that rotated horizontally and vertically; modern versions are sophisticated computerized devices, capable of tracking weather balloons, airplanes, and other moving objects, at distances of up to 20,000 m (65,600 ft). |