a sphere with three great circles shown
great circle
n.
1. A circle described by the intersection of the surface of a sphere with a plane passing through the center of the sphere.
2. A segment of such a circle representing the shortest distance between two terrestrial points.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
great circle
n
(Mathematics) a circular section of a sphere that has a radius equal to that of the sphere. Compare small circle
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
great′ cir′cle
n.
1. a circle on a sphere such that the plane containing the circle passes through the center of the sphere.
2. a circle of which a segment represents the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the earth.
[1585–95]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
great circle
(grāt) A circle on the surface of a sphere whose plane passes through the center of the sphere. The Earth's equator is a great circle on the sphere of the globe.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
great circle
- Any circle on the surface of a sphere that lies on a plane through its center, or a circle that divides into two equal parts—as the Equator.See also related terms for sphere.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  great circle - a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the centercelestial equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial line - the great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles ecliptic - the great circle representing the apparent annual path of the sun; the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun; makes an angle of about 23 degrees with the equator; "all of the planets rotate the sun in approximately the same ecliptic" equator - an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles; "the equator is the boundary between the northern and southern hemispheres" celestial horizon, horizon - the great circle on the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the sensible horizon and the center of the Earth hour circle - a great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through both celestial poles line - a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent line of longitude, meridian - an imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator; "all points on the same meridian have the same longitude" vertical circle - a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.