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

The 60-foot geodesic dome provided a place for people to cool down and take in breakbeats, dubstep and, eventually, other electronic subgenres.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

A geodesic describes the shortest path between two points.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

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

In an upstairs hallway, Phillips, who has done occasional promotional posts in exchange for Disney goods or tickets, painted a pattern reminiscent of Spaceship Earth, Epcot’s geodesic dome.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

I told him, “Richard Buckminster Fuller was a scientist, philosopher, and inventor who is most famous for designing the geodesic dome, whose most famous version is the Buckyball. He died in 1983, I think.”

From "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer