astrolabe
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
as·tro·labe
(ăs′trə-lāb′)n.
A medieval instrument, now replaced by the sextant, that was once used to determine the altitude of the sun or other celestial bodies.
[Middle English astrelabie, from Old French astrelabe, from Medieval Latin astrolabium, from Greek astrolabon, planisphere : astro-, astro- + lambanein, lab-, to take.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
astrolabe
(ˈæstrəˌleɪb)n
1. (Navigation) 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
2. (Astronomy) 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
3. (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
[C13: via Old French and Medieval Latin from Greek, from astrolabos (adj), literally: star-taking, from astron star + lambanein to take]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
as•tro•labe
(ˈæs trəˌleɪb)n.
a medieval instrument used to determine the position of the sun or stars.
[1325–75; Middle English, variant of astrolabie < Medieval Latin astrolabium < Late Greek astrolábion, Greek astrolábos=astro- astro- + -labos to seize]
as`tro•lab′i•cal (-ˈlæb ɪ kəl, -ˈleɪ bɪ-) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
astrolabe
a navigational instrument formerly used for taking bearings of the sun and stars. See also representation.
See also: Instrumentsa stereographic projection of the earth, as a sphere, on the plane of one of the great circles. Also called planisphere.
See also: Representation-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() sextant - a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
astrolabe
n → Astrolab(ium) nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007