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Webster 1913 Edition


Theodolite

The-od′o-lite

,
Noun.
[Probably a corruption of
the alidade
. See
Alidade
.]
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Theodolite

THEOD'OLITE

,
Noun.
[Gr. to run, and long.] An instrument for taking the heights and distances of objects, or for measuring horizontal and vertical angles in land-surveying.

Definition 2024


theodolite

theodolite

See also: théodolite

English

Noun

theodolite (plural theodolites)

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

Translations

See also