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gyrocompass

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
gy·ro·com·pass  (jr-kmps, -km-)
n.
A compass with a motorized gyroscope whose angular momentum interacts with the force produced by the earth's rotation to maintain a north-south orientation of the gyroscopic spin axis, thereby providing a stable directional reference.
gyrocompass [ˈdʒaɪrəʊˌkʌmpəs]
n
(Mathematics & Measurements / Navigation) Navigation a nonmagnetic compass that uses a motor-driven gyroscope to indicate true north Sometimes shortened to gyro
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.gyrocompassgyrocompass - a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead
compass - navigational instrument for finding directions
gyroscope, gyro - rotating mechanism in the form of a universally mounted spinning wheel that offers resistance to turns in any direction
Translations
gyrocompass [ˈdʒaɪrəʊˈkʌmpəs] N → girocompás m
gyrocompass
n → Kreiselmagnetkompass m


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
Occupying a critically important space between its ancestral roots (the primitive lodestone) and its late 20th-century descendents (the gyrocompass and GPS technology), the magnetic compass, born of the need for a reliable means of negotiating treacherous sea routes around the globe, has been an indispensable sailor's guide.
Gurney, Alan. Compass: A Story of Exploration and Innovation by Davis, Tim / Kliatt
On 21 March 1919, a gyrocompass developed for the Navy was tested in an aircraft, marking the first recorded instance of tests of a device that would become an invaluable navigational instrument for long-range flight.
Navigation by Naval Aviation News
Unlike a conventional gyrocompass that typically must operate for an hour or more before it can provide useful information, the GPS compass is usually ready for use in less than five minutes.
Techno talk by Husick, Chuck / BOAT/U.S. Magazine
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