triangulation

Definition

A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin triangulātiō (“triangulation”), from triangulō (“to triangulate”) + -tiō (noun-forming suffix). Triangulō is derived from triangulus (“triangular; triangle”), from trēs (“three”) + angulus (“angle; corner”). By surface analysis, triangulate + ion; cognate with French triangulation.

Example Sentences

• "The season of 1835–36 was employed in carrying on the triangulation; in which Colonel [George] Everest was much impeded by a long continuance of hazy and cloudy weather. It appears, however, that the principal triangulation was brought down to the line from Juktipura to Pagara; […]"
• "Russia began under Catherine II, and has since constantly either taken up at different points or extended the triangulations successively made, with always more perfection of men of science. Now, these triangulations form a fully connected series from north of the arctic circle to south of Dorpat."
• "The original base lines, which form the starting points of the survey, require to be measured by apparatus of the most delicate nature, since any error, committed in the early part of this work, will necessarily be multiplied throughout the series of triangulations which rest upon it. […] Nor is less precision necessary in the measurement of the angles of the primary and secondary triangulations, which serve as checks upon each other, since the position of any point in the former is determined by each of these series."

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