geodesic

American  

[jee-uh-des-ik, -dee-sik] / ˌdʒi əˈdɛs ɪk, -ˈdi sɪk /

adjective

1. Also geodesical. pertaining to the geometry of curved surfaces, in which geodesic lines take the place of the straight lines of plane geometry.

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noun

1. geodesic line.

geodesic British  

/ -ˈdiː-, ˌdʒiːəʊˈdɛsɪk /

adjective

1. Also: geodetic.   geodesical.  relating to or involving the geometry of curved surfaces

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noun

1. Also called: geodesic line.  the shortest line between two points on a curved or plane surface

geodesic Scientific  

/ jē′ə-dĕs′ĭk,-dē′sĭk /

1. A curve that locally minimizes the distance between two points on any mathematically defined space, such as a curved manifold. Equivalently, it is a path of minimal curvature. In noncurved three-dimensional space, the geodesic is a straight line. In General Relativity, the trajectory of a body with negligible mass on which only gravitational forces are acting (i.e. a free falling body) is a geodesic in (curved) 4-dimensional space-time.

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1. Of or relating to the branch of geometry that deals with geodesics.

Etymology

Origin of geodesic

From the French word géodésique, dating back to 1815–25. See geodesy, -ic

Example Sentences

A geodesic describes the shortest path between two points.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Her boyfriend of two years recently proposed to her in a rented geodesic dome in the mountains near their home.

From New York Times • May 22, 2024

I’m also old enough to remember the craze over geodesic dome houses and A-frames, among other housing fads.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2024

The New Year’s Eve Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds.

From Washington Times • Dec. 28, 2023

As the geodesic is the shortest path between any two airports, this is the route an airline navigator will tell the pilot to fly along.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking