astrolabe

as·tro·labe  (str-lb)

n.

A medieval instrument, now replaced by the sextant, that was once used to determine the altitude of the sun or other celestial bodies.

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[Middle English astrelabie, from Old French astrelabe, from Medieval Latin astrolabium, from Greek astrolabon, planisphere : astro-, astro- + lambanein, lab-, to take.]

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astrolabe [ˈæstrəˌleɪb]

n

(Mathematics & Measurements / Navigation) (Astronomy) (Engineering / Tools) an instrument used by early astronomers to measure the altitude of stars and planets and also as a navigational aid. It consists of a graduated circular disc with a movable sighting device Compare sextant

[via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek, from astrolabos (adj), literally: star-taking, from astron star + lambanein to take]

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astrolabe  (str-lb)

An ancient instrument used widely in medieval times by navigators and astronomers to determine latitude, longitude, and time of day. The device employed a disk with 360 degrees marked on its circumference. Users took readings from an indicator that pivoted around the center of the suspended device like the hand of a clock. The astrolabe was replaced by the sextant in the 18th century.

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astrolabe

a navigational instrument formerly used for taking bearings of the sun and stars. See also representation.

See also: Instruments

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a stereographic projection of the earth, as a sphere, on the plane of one of the great circles. Also called planisphere.

See also: Representation

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

astrolabe - an early form of sextant             sextant - a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant

Translations

astrolabe [ˈæstrəʊleɪb] N → astrolabio m

astrolabe

n → Astrolab(ium) nt