geodesy
oxford
views updated May 21 2018ge·od·e·sy / jēˈädəsē/ •
n. the branch of mathematics dealing with the shape and area of the earth or large portions of it.DERIVATIVES: ge·od·e·sist / -sist/ n.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
geodesy
oxford
views updated May 08 2018geodesy The science of measurement of the shape or figure of the
Earth and its gravitational field. This science has expanded from topographic and astronomic surveying with the advent of satellite positioning systems, e.g.
GPS and
SPS.
A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY
geodesy
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018geodesy †land-surveying XVI; (math.) study which determines areas of the earth's surface XIX. — F.
géodésie or modL.
geōdæsia — Gr.
geōdaisíā (
daiein divide).
Hence
geodetic XVII.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
