- vertical circle
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a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith.[1550-60]
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Universalium. 2010.
vertical circle
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Vertical circle — Vertical Ver ti*cal, a. [Cf. F. vertical. See {Vertex}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to the vertex; situated at the vertex, or highest point; directly overhead, or in the zenith; perpendicularly above one. [1913 Webster] Charity . . . is… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Vertical circle — Circle Cir cle (s[ e]r k l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri kos, ki rkos, circle, ring. Cf. {Circus}, {Circum }.] [1913 Webster] 1. A plane figure, bounded by a single… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
vertical circle — n. Astron. any great circle of the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and the nadir and perpendicular to the horizon … English World dictionary
Vertical circle — Azimuth Az i*muth, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar. as sum?t, pl. of as samt a way, or perh., a point of the horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith, as being the Arabic article: cf. It. azzimutto, Pg. azimuth, and Ar. samt al… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Vertical circle — In astronomy, a vertical circle is a great circle on the celestial sphere that is perpendicular to the horizon. Therefore it passes through the zenith and the nadir. There is a vertical circle for any given direction. The vertical circle which is … Wikipedia
vertical circle — A great circle of the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles as well as the observer’s zenith and nadir. Vertical circles are perpendicular to the horizon. The prime vertical circle, or the prime vertical, passes through the east… … Aviation dictionary
vertical circle — /vɜtɪkəl ˈsɜkəl/ (say vertikuhl serkuhl) noun 1. Astronomy a great circle on the celestial sphere which passes through the zenith and cuts the horizon at right angles. 2. Surveying the graduated circular plate of a theodolite used for measuring… …
vertical circle — noun a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon • Hypernyms: ↑great circle … Useful english dictionary
vertical circle — noun Date: 1559 a great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is perpendicular to that of the horizon see azimuth illustration … New Collegiate Dictionary
vertical circle — ver′tical cir′cle n. astron. a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith • Etymology: 1550–60 … From formal English to slang
