a circle upon the surface of the sphere, called a great circle when its plane passes through the center of the sphere; in all other cases, a small circle.

See also: Circle

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by G. & C. Merriam Co.

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References in periodicals archive

Supposing the eye placed in the centre of a sphere, every great circle of the sphere will have the same appearance to the eye as if it was a straight line.

(Reid implies as much when he says "[A]ny line which is drawn in the plane of a great circle of the sphere, whether it be in reality straight or curve, will appear straight to the eye [placed at the centre of the sphere].")

Thomas Reid's geometry of visibles

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Circle of the sphere