octant
octant
Definition
oc·tant (äk′tənt)
noun
- an eighth of a circle; 45° angle or arc
- an instrument like the sextant, for measuring angles
- Astron. the position of one celestial body when it is 45° distant from another
- Math. any of the eight parts into which a space is divided by three planes intersecting at a single point and at right angles to one another
Etymology: LL octans, eighth part < L octo, eight
octant
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- invent: He invented the octant in 1731 and patented it in 1734.
Browse dictionary entries near octant
- Octans
- octanol
- octanoic acid
- octane
- octan
- octameter
- octamerous
- octal
- octahedron
- octahedrite
