theodolite

theodolite
—theodolitic /thee od'l it"ik/, adj.
/thee od"l uyt'/, n.
1. Survey. a precision instrument having a telescopic sight for establishing horizontal and sometimes vertical angles. Cf. transit (def. 6).
2. phototheodolite.
[1565-75; < NL theodolitus < ?]

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▪ measurement instrument
      basic surveying instrument of unknown origin but going back to the 16th-century English mathematician Leonard Digges; it is used to measure horizontal and vertical angles. In its modern form it consists of a telescope mounted to swivel both horizontally and vertically. Leveling is accomplished with the aid of a spirit level; crosshairs in the telescope permit accurate alignment with the object sighted. After the telescope is adjusted precisely, the two accompanying scales, vertical and horizontal, are read.

      Mounted on a tripod with adjustable legs, the theodolite is used in the field to obtain precise angular measurements for triangulation in road building, tunnel alignment, and other civil-engineering work. The transit is a variety of theodolite that has the telescope so mounted that it can be completely reversed, or transited. The phototheodolite, a combination camera and theodolite mounted on the same tripod, is used in terrestrial photogrammetry for mapmaking and other purposes.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Théodolite — Un théodolite est un instrument de géodésie complété d’un instrument d’optique, mesurant des angles dans les deux plans horizontal et vertical afin de déterminer une direction. Il est utilisé pour réaliser les mesures d’une triangulation :… …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • theodolite — 1570s, of unknown origin (see OED for discussion) …   Etymology dictionary

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  • theodolite — UK [θɪˈɒdəlaɪt] / US [θɪˈɑdəˌlaɪt] noun [countable] Word forms theodolite : singular theodolite plural theodolites a piece of equipment that a surveyor uses for measuring angles …   English dictionary

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