Definition of Theodolite

1. Noun. A surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod.

Exact synonyms: Transit
Terms within: Alidad, Alidade
Generic synonyms: Surveying Instrument, Surveyor's Instrument
Specialized synonyms: Tacheometer, Tachymeter
Derivative terms: Transit

Definition of Theodolite

1. n. An instrument used, especially in trigonometrical surveying, for the accurate measurement of horizontal angles, and also usually of vertical angles. It is variously constructed.

Definition of Theodolite

1. Noun. A surveying instrument, consisting of a small mounted telescope, used to measure horizontal and vertical angles. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Theodolite

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Theodolite

1. An instrument used, especially in trigonometrical surveying, for the accurate measurement of horizontal angles, and also usually of vertical angles. It is variously constructed. The theodolite consists principally of a telescope, with cross wires in the focus of its object glass, clamped in Y's attached to a frame that is mounted so as to turn both on vertical and horizontal axes, the former carrying a vernier plate on a horizontal graduated plate or circle for azimuthal angles, and the latter a vertical graduated arc or semicircle for altitudes. The whole is furnished with levels and adjusting screws and mounted on a tripod. Origin: Probably a corruption of the alidade. See Alidade. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Theodolite

theocon
theocons
theoconservatism
theocracies
theocracy
theocrasies
theocrasy
theocrat
theocratic
theocratical
theocratically
theocraticals
theocrats
theodicies
theodicy
theodolite (current term)
theodolites
theodolitic
theogallin
theogonic
theogonies
theogonism
theogonist
theogonists
theogony
theographic
theography
theolin
theolinguistic
theolinguistics

Literary usage of Theodolite

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Treatise on Mine-surveying by Bennett Hooper Brough, Harry Dean (1920)
"This was essentially a theodolite. It had a graduated horizontal circle with verniers, ... Since 1832, the theodolite has been used, more or less, ..."

2. A Treatise on Mine-surveying by Bennett H. Brough (1889)
"THE theodolite. Historical Sketch.—In mine-surveys, where extreme accuracy is required, the theodolite should be employed. There is, however, no occasion ..."

3. Elements of Surveying and Navigation: With Descriptions of the Instruments by Charles Davies (1866)
"TO FIND THE TRUE MERIDIAN WITH THE theodolite. 16. Take a board, of about one foot square, paste white paper upon it, and perforate it through the centre ..."

4. A Manual of Civil Engineering by William John Macquorn Rankine, William J. Millar (1907)
"Instead of the upper parallel plate, Colonel Everest's theodolite has three diverging arms (fig. 30), as in an astronomical circle, •with a vertical ..."

5. A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art: Comprising the Definitions and by George William Cox (1867)
"The theodolite, as now generally constructed the vernier plate, and its edge is sloped off to receive the graduations ; aud portions of the opposite edges ..."

6. A Treatise on Surveying: Containing the Theory and Practice: to which is by John Gummere (1840)
"OF THE theodolite. A VERTICAL ANGLE is any angle in a plane ... A theodolite is an instrument used to measure both horizontal and vertical angles. ..."

7. A Text-book of Mineralogy: With an Extended Treatise on Crystallography and by Edward Salisbury Dana (1922)
"It is used in a manner analagous to that of the ordinary theodolite. ... A simplified form of the theodolite-goniometer is described by Stöber, Zs. Kryst., ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Theodolite on Dictionary.com!Search for Theodolite on Thesaurus.com!Search for Theodolite on Google!Search for Theodolite on Wikipedia!