theodolite

American  

[thee-od-l-ahyt] / θiˈɒd lˌaɪt /

noun

1. Surveying. a precision instrument having a telescopic sight for establishing horizontal and sometimes vertical angles.

2. phototheodolite.

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theodolite British  

/ θɪˈɒdəˌlaɪt, θɪˌɒdəˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. Also called (in the US and Canada): transit.  a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small tripod-mounted telescope that is free to move in both the horizontal and vertical planes

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theodolite Scientific  

/ thē-ŏd′l-īt′ /

1. An optical instrument used to measure angles in surveying, meteorology, and navigation. In meteorology, it is used to track the motion of a weather balloon by measuring its elevation and azimuth angle. The earliest theodolite consisted of a small mounted telescope that rotated horizontally and vertically; modern versions are sophisticated computerized devices, capable of tracking weather balloons, airplanes, and other moving objects, at distances of up to 20,000 m (65,600 ft).

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Other Word Forms

• theodolitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of theodolite

First recorded in 1565–75, theodolite is from the New Latin word theodolitus < ?

Example Sentences

On Sunday, April 13, three miles from the mountain’s summit at the Timberline observation station, Swanson peered through a theodolite, an instrument that measured angles very accurately.

From Literature

The tool, a theodolite, is used to measure precise geographical location for missile launches as well as the angle and direction of the launchers, Dr Su said.

From BBC

Thus Galileo’s sector was a primitive theodolite, slide rule and protractor all in one.

From Literature

Until the advent of satellites, surveyors used a device called a theodolite, a precision optical instrument mounted on a tripod, for measuring angles between two designated points.

From National Geographic

At the same time, Nepalese crews took measurements with modern, laser-equipped versions of instruments called theodolites, first used to gauge the mountain’s height in 1856 by measuring angles using trigonometry.

From Washington Times