triangulate

American  

[trahy-ang-gyuh-lit, -leyt, trahy-ang-gyuh-leyt] / traɪˈæŋ gyə lɪt, -ˌleɪt, traɪˈæŋ gyəˌleɪt /

adjective

1. composed of or marked with triangles.

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verb (used with object)

triangulated, triangulating

1. to make triangular.

2. to divide into triangles.

3. to survey (an area) by triangulation.

triangulate British  

verb

1. 1. to survey by the method of triangulation

   2. to calculate trigonometrically

2. to divide into triangles

3. to make triangular

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adjective

1. marked with or composed of triangles

Other Word Forms

• subtriangulate adjective
• triangulately adverb
• triangulator noun

Etymology

Origin of triangulate

1600–10; < Medieval Latin triangulātus, past participle of triangulāre to make triangles. See triangle, -ate ¹

Explanation

To triangulate is to divide into triangles or use triangles to measure something. Sometimes people triangulate to measure distance. When you use three points to measure something, you triangulate. Recognize the word triangle in triangulate? It’s no coincidence, both words come from the Latin triangulum for yes, “triangle.” When you triangulate, you make a series of triangles to measure distance or altitude. The height of a mountain and the distance to a river could both be estimated by triangulating. This type of triangulating is derived from trigonometry, which involves measuring the length and angles of triangles. You may have done that type of triangulating in math class.

Example Sentences

Plant three of them, and you can triangulate the position of an enemy drone, among other targets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

"You could triangulate to where the jammer was located."

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

The nascent “digital detox” sector is a hard one to triangulate.

From Slate • Sep. 5, 2025

The researchers propose that spiders may triangulate the insects’ distance and direction using hairlike structures on their legs called trichobothria that pick up minute fluctuations in sound and air currents.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 4, 2024

Sometimes two examples are better than one, because they allow the reader to triangulate on which aspect of the example is relevant to the definition.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker