vertical circle


nounAstronomy.
  1. a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith.

Origin of vertical circle

1
First recorded in 1550–60

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How to use vertical circle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vertical circle

vertical circle

noun
  1. astronomy a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon

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 vertical circle

vertical circle

  1. A great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through the zenith and the nadir and thus is perpendicular to the horizon.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.