great circle

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.

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great circle

n

(Mathematics) a circular section of a sphere that has a radius equal to that of the sphere Compare small circle

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great circle

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.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

great circle - a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center celestial 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