circular measure

American  

noun

1. a measurement system for circles: 1 circle = 360 degrees (4 quadrants); 1 quadrant = 90 degrees; 1 degree = 60 minutes; 1 minute = 60 seconds.

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circular measure British  

noun

1. the measurement of an angle in radians

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Etymology

Origin of circular measure

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Arc and Sector.—Data: radius = a; θ = circular measure of angle subtended at centre by arc; c = chord of arc; c2 = chord of semi-arc; c4 = chord of quarter-arc.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

Nauticus lays down—quite correctly—that the sine of an angle is less than its circular measure.

From A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II by Smith, David Eugene

Thus, 7° 20' 10" in circular measure,             or 7' 20" 10''' in duodecimal long measure.

From Business Hints for Men and Women by Calhoun, Alfred Rochefort

For some purposes it is preferable to retain the circular measure, i radians, as being undistinguishable from sin i and tan i when i is small as in direct fire.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various