triangulation

[ trahy-ang-gyuh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

, Surveying, Navigation.

1. a technique for establishing the distance between any two points, or the relative position of two or more points, by using such points as vertices of a triangle or series of triangles, such that each triangle has a side of known or measurable length base, or base line that permits the size of the angles of the triangle and the length of its other two sides to be established by observations taken either upon or from the two ends of the base line.
2. the triangles thus formed and measured.

triangulation

/ traɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. a method of surveying in which an area is divided into triangles, one side (the base line) and all angles of which are measured and the lengths of the other lines calculated trigonometrically
2. the network of triangles so formed
3. the fixing of an unknown point, as in navigation, by making it one vertex of a triangle, the other two being known
4. chess a key manoeuvre in the endgame in which the king moves thrice in a triangular path to leave the opposing king with the move and at a disadvantage

triangulation

/ trī-ăng′gyə-lā′shən /

1. A method of determining the relative positions of points in space by measuring the distances, and sometimes angles, between those points and other reference points whose positions are known. Triangulation often involves the use of trigonometry . It is commonly used in the navigation of aircraft and boats, and is the method used in the Global Positioning System , in which the reference points are satellites.

Word History and Origins

Origin of triangulation¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin triangulātiōn- (stem of triangulātiō ) “the making of triangles”; triangulate, -ion

Example Sentences

The triangulation of the Winchcombe fireball, orbital analysis, recovery, and the geochemical techniques used to investigate this space rock’s history required a huge amount of teamwork.

From Singularity Hub 

It just means that you have to do more triangulation than people may appreciate.

From FiveThirtyEight

During the event, Williams was talking with two physicists who mentioned a sequence of numbers related to triangulations of the amplituhedron.

From Quanta Magazine

This strange triangulation exposes the farce of negotiations.

From The Daily Beast

This is triangulation, except that in this case most of the public is against Obama.

From The Daily Beast

Gone was the timid triangulation that danced around and away from the liberal ideal.

From The Daily Beast

But there is no talk of triangulation; instead just a fact-defying rush to reinforce old narratives.

From The Daily Beast

Even while ratcheting up his rhetoric against the GOP, Obama also engaged in a bit of Clintonian triangulation.

From The Daily Beast

He made application at head-quarters for a theodolite to make a triangulation of the distance, but was refused its use.

From Project Gutenberg

The calculation of these distances is made by "triangulation."

From Project Gutenberg

The method of survey planned was a combination of graphic triangulation and traverse with the micro-meteralidade.

From Project Gutenberg

Micrometer traverse and graphic triangulation, with contours, field scale 1:90,000.

From Project Gutenberg

It played thus, steadily, for ten minutes, giving time to obtain an accurate measurement by triangulation.

From Project Gutenberg