great circle

great circle
1. a circle on a spherical surface such that the plane containing the circle passes through the center of the sphere. Cf. small circle.
2. a circle of which a segment represents the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the earth.
[1585-95]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Great circle of a sphere — Great Great (gr[=a]t), a. [Compar. {Greater}; superl. {Greatest}.] [OE. gret, great, AS. gre[ a]t; akin to OS. & LG. gr[=o]t, D. groot, OHG. gr[=o]z, G. gross. Cf. {Groat} the coin.] 1. Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • great circle — great′ cir′cle n. 1) math. a circle on a sphere such that the plane containing the circle passes through the center of the sphere 2) naut. geo a circle of which a segment represents the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the… …   From formal English to slang

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