Azimuth Definition

ăzə-məth
noun
The horizontal angular distance from a reference direction, usually the northern point of the horizon, to the point where a vertical circle through a celestial body intersects the horizon, usually measured clockwise. Sometimes the southern point is used as the reference direction, and the measurement is made clockwise through 360°.
American Heritage
An angular measurement used to locate an object, star, etc.: it is measured clockwise around the horizon from the north, or south, to the object or the intersection of the object's vertical circle with the horizon.
Webster's New World
The horizontal angle of the observer's bearing in surveying, measured clockwise from a referent direction, as from the north, or from a referent celestial body, usually Polaris.
American Heritage
The lateral deviation of a projectile or bomb.
American Heritage

An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian of the place and a vertical circle passing through the center of any object; as, the azimuth of a star; the azimuth or bearing of a line surveying.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
  • az

Other Word Forms of Azimuth

Noun

Singular:
azimuth
Plural:
azimuths

Origin of Azimuth

  • Middle English azimut from Old French from Arabic as-sumūt pl. of as-samt the way, compass bearing al- the samt way (from Latin sēmita path mei-1 in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French *azimut, from Arabic السمت (as-samt, “direction”). Cognate to modern French azimut.

    From Wiktionary

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