trilateration

[ trahy-lat-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

, Surveying.

1. a method of determining the relative positions of three or more points by treating these points as vertices of a triangle or triangles of which the angles and sides can be measured.

trilateration

/ ˌtraɪlætəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. a method of surveying in which a whole area is divided into triangles, the sides of which are measured, usually by electromagnetic distance measuring for geodetic control or by chain survey for a detailed survey

Word History and Origins

Origin of trilateration¹

trilater(al) + -ation