trilateration

[ trahy-lat-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

, Surveying.

1. a method of determining the relative positions of three or more points by treating these points as vertices of a triangle or triangles of which the angles and sides can be measured.

trilateration

/ ˌtraɪlætəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. a method of surveying in which a whole area is divided into triangles, the sides of which are measured, usually by electromagnetic distance measuring for geodetic control or by chain survey for a detailed survey

Word History and Origins

Origin of trilateration¹

trilater(al) + -ation

Example Sentences

Using a process called trilateration the GPS device converts these signals into exact latitude and longitude locations.

From National Geographic

And if that information is accurate, their precise location can be revealed using a process called trilateration.

From BBC

In a post published Thursday, the website Queer Europe detailed how easy it is to find any Grindr user’s location using an app called Fuckr, which employs a technique called “trilateration” to find users.

From The Verge

Using a process called trilateration, these orbiting bodies are able to tell where you are.

From Time

This was done via a technique known as trilateration -- recording other users' distance from three different locations.

From Seattle Times