geodesy

[ jee-od-uh-see ]

noun

1. the branch of applied mathematics that deals with the measurement of the shape and area of large tracts of country, the exact position of geographical points, and the curvature, shape, and dimensions of the earth.

geodesy

/ dʒɪˈɒdɪsɪ; ˌdʒiːəʊˈdɛtɪks /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with determining the exact position of geographical points and the shape and size of the earth

geodesy

/ jē-ŏd′ĭ-sē /

1. The scientific study of the size and shape of the Earth, its field of gravity, and such varying phenomena as the motion of the magnetic poles and the tides.

Derived Forms

• geˈodesist, noun

Other Words From

• ge·ode·sist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of geodesy¹

1560–70; < French géodésie < Greek geōdaisía, equivalent to geō- geo- + daí ( ein ) to divide + -sia, variant of -ia -ia (generalized from stems ending in t )

Word History and Origins

Origin of geodesy¹

C16: from French géodésie, from Greek geōdaisia, from geo- + daiein to divide

Example Sentences

In 1987, the International Astronomical Union and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics established the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Services to monitor Earth’s rotation and maintain global time.

From Popular-Science

So we shall put the question otherwise; can geodesy aid us the better to know nature?

From Project Gutenberg

And to-day, a century and a half after the victory of the Newtonians, think you geodesy has nothing more to teach us?

From Project Gutenberg

Geodesy can therefore weigh them from afar, so to speak, and tell us of their distribution.

From Project Gutenberg

We reach what may be called the second heroic period of geodesy.

From Project Gutenberg

The theodolites used in geodesy vary in pattern and in size—the horizontal circles ranging from 10 in.

From Project Gutenberg