geoid
Americannoun
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an imaginary surface that coincides with mean sea level in the ocean and its extension through the continents.
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the geometric figure formed by this surface, an ellipsoid flattened at the poles.
noun
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a hypothetical surface that corresponds to mean sea level and extends at the same level under the continents
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the shape of the earth
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of geoid
First recorded in 1880–85, geoid is from the Greek word geoeidḗs earthlike. See geo-, -oid
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.
Forte also claimed the computer simulations did not accurately project the actual shape of Earth as a geoid.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2023
These plumes, along with the nearby mantle structure, are believed to form the "gravity" hole because it winds up being the lowest point in that geoid, creating its biggest gravitational anomaly.
From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2023
Pal says the geoid low probably took its present shape about 20 million years ago, when the plumes started to spread within the upper mantle.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 26, 2023
This produces an exaggerated visualization of our planet’s gravitational high and low spots called the global geoid.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 26, 2023
The geoid is above the ellipsoid of reference under mountains and it is below the ellipsoid on the oceans, where the geoid coincides with mean sea level.
From Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Papers 34-44 On Science and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, 1966 by Lenzen, Victor Fritz
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.
