octant


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oc·tant

 (ŏk′tənt)
n.
1. One eighth of a circle.
2.
a. A 45° arc.
b. The area enclosed by two radii at a 45° angle and the intersected arc.
3. An instrument based on the principle of the sextant but employing only a 45° angle, used as an aid in navigation.
4. Astronomy The position of a celestial body when it is separated from another by a 45° angle.
5. One of eight parts into which three-dimensional space is divided by three usually perpendicular coordinate planes.
[Latin octāns, octant-, from octō, eight; see oktō(u) in Indo-European roots.]
oc·tan′tal (ŏk-tăn′təl) adj.
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.

octant

(ˈɒktənt)
n
1. (Mathematics) maths
a. any of the eight parts into which the three planes containing the Cartesian coordinate axes divide space
b. an eighth part of a circle
2. (Astronomy) astronomy the position of a celestial body when it is at an angular distance of 45° from another body
3. (Navigation) an instrument used for measuring angles, similar to a sextant but having a graduated arc of 45°
[C17: from Latin octans half quadrant, from octo eight]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

oc•tant

(ˈɒk tənt)

n.
1. the eighth part of a circle.
2. any of the eight parts into which three mutually perpendicular planes divide space.
3. an instrument having an arc of 24°, used by navigators for measuring angles up to 90°.
4. the position of one heavenly body when 45° distant from another.
[1680–90; < Latin octant-, s. of octāns=oct(ō) eight + -āns, as in quadrāns quadrant]
oc•tan′tal (-ˈtæn tl) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.octant - a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial bodyoctant - a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration
limb - the graduated arc that is attached to an instrument for measuring angles; "the limb of the sextant"
measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring system - instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
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