Azimuth definition
The position of a celestial object along an observer's horizon. Azimuth is a horizontal angle measured clockwise in degrees from a reference direction, usually the north or south point of the horizon, to the point on the horizon intersected by the object's line of altitude (a line from the observer's zenith through the object to the horizon). If north is the reference point (0°), then east has an azimuth of 90°, south is 180°, and so forth through 360°.
The horizontal angular distance from a reference direction, usually the northern point of the horizon, to the point where a vertical circle through a celestial body intersects the horizon, usually measured clockwise. Sometimes the southern point is used as the reference direction, and the measurement is made clockwise through 360°.
noun
The horizontal angle of the observer's bearing in surveying, measured clockwise from a referent direction, as from the north, or from a referent celestial body, usually Polaris.
noun
The lateral deviation of a projectile or bomb.
noun
(astron., surveying, etc.) An angular measurement used to locate an object, star, etc.: it is measured clockwise around the horizon from the north, or south, to the object or the intersection of the object's vertical circle with the horizon.
noun
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The trajectory of an angle measured in degrees going clockwise from a base point. A disk azimuth alignment test checks for the correct positioning of the read/write head to the track.
The quadrant of an azimuth circle.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
azimuth
Plural:
azimuthsOrigin of azimuth
- Middle English azimut from Old French from Arabic as-sumūt pl. of as-samt the way, compass bearing al- the samt way (from Latin sēmita path mei-1 in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Old French *azimut, from Arabic السمت (as-samt, “direction”). Cognate to modern French azimut.
From Wiktionary