tri·an·gu·la·tion (tr - ng gy -l  shn)n. 1. a. A surveying technique in which a region is divided into a series of triangular elements based on a line of known length so that accurate measurements of distances and directions may be made by the application of trigonometry. b. The network of triangles so laid out. 2. The location of an unknown point, as in navigation, by the formation of a triangle having the unknown point and two known points as the vertices. |
triangulation [traɪˌæŋgjʊˈleɪʃən]
n
1. (Mathematics & Measurements / Surveying) a method of surveying in which an area is divided into triangles, one side (the base line) and all angles of which are measured and the lengths of the other lines calculated trigonometrically
2. (Mathematics & Measurements / Surveying) the network of triangles so formed
3. (Mathematics & Measurements / Navigation) the fixing of an unknown point, as in navigation, by making it one vertex of a triangle, the other two being known
4. (Group Games / Chess & Draughts) Chess a key manoeuvre in the endgame in which the king moves thrice in a triangular path to leave the opposing king with the move and at a disadvantage
| triangulation (tr-nggy-lshn) A method of determining the relative positions of points in space by measuring the distances, and sometimes angles, between those points and other reference points whose positions are known. Triangulation often involves the use of trigonometry. It is commonly used in the navigation of aircraft and boats, and is the method used in the Global Positioning System , in which the reference points are satellites. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  triangulation - a trigonometric method of determining the position of a fixed point from the angles to it from two fixed points a known distance apart; useful in navigationtrig, trigonometry - the mathematics of triangles and trigonometric functions |
| 2. |  triangulation - a method of surveying; the area is divided into triangles and the length of one side and its angles with the other two are measured, then the lengths of the other sides can be calculatedsurveying - the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map; "he studied surveying at college" |
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