artificial horizon
Americannoun
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a level, as a surface of mercury, used in determining the altitudes of stars.
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the bubble in a sextant or octant for aerial use.
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Also called flight indicator. Also called gyro horizon. Aeronautics an instrument that indicates the banking and pitch of an aircraft with respect to the horizon.
noun
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Also called: gyro horizon. an aircraft instrument, using a gyroscope, that indicates the aircraft's attitude in relation to the horizontal
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astronomy a level reflecting surface, such as one of mercury, that measures the altitude of a celestial body as half the angle between the body and its reflection
Etymology
Origin of artificial horizon
First recorded in 1795–1805
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inspired by a child's spinning top toy, Serson wondered if he could create an artificial horizon - something that would stay level, even as a ship lurched and swayed around it.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2019
The entire zone which defined the landscape of my life was now bounded by a continuous artificial horizon, formed by the raised parapets and embankments of the motorways and their access roads and interchanges.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 4, 2014
All the dials and gauges of a real airplane cockpit are displayed on the bottom half of the screen, including altimeter, artificial horizon, airspeed indicator and two compasses.
From Time Magazine Archive
Its instrument panel, with more than 30 dials including the invaluable "artificial horizon," offered practically every known aid to navigation.
From Time Magazine Archive
The sextant and artificial horizon, lying on the ground, escaped destruction, and the dipping-needle had fortunately been taken on board.
From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Fitzroy, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
