coordinated universal time

co·or·di·nat·ed universal time (k-ôrdn-td)

n. Abbr. UTC

Universal time, taking into account the addition or omission of leap seconds by atomic clocks each year to compensate for changes in the rotation of the earth.

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coordinated universal time  (k-ôrdn-td)

A highly accurate time scale based on time measured by an atomic clock. Because coordinated universal time is unaffected by the gradual slowing of Earth's rotation, leap seconds are added as needed to synchronize it with the sidereal (rotation-based) universal time. Coordinated universal time is used internationally for scientific and technical purposes. Compare universal time.

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An atomic time scale that is the basis for broadcast time signals. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) differs from International Atomic Time by an integral number of seconds; it is maintained within 0.9 seconds of UT1 (see Universal Time) by introduction of Leap Seconds. The rotational orientation of the Earth, specified by UT1, may be obtained to an accuracy of a tenth of a second by applying the UTC to the increment DUT1 (where DUT1 = UT1 - UTC) that is broadcast in code with the time signals. Also called UTC. See also International Atomic Time; Universal Time; ZULU Time.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

coordinated universal time - Greenwich Mean Time updated with leap seconds UTC GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, Greenwich Time, universal time, UT, UT1 - the local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England; it is the same everywhere Earth-received time, ERT - the coordinated universal time when an event is received on Earth transmission time, TRM - the coordinated universal time when a transmission is sent from Earth to a spacecraft or other celestial body SCET, spacecraft event time - the coordinated universal time on board the spacecraft; "SCET = TRM + OWLT"