geodesic

American  

[jee-uh-des-ik, -dee-sik] / ˌdʒi əˈdɛs ɪk, -ˈdi sɪk /

adjective

1. Also geodesical. pertaining to the geometry of curved surfaces, in which geodesic lines take the place of the straight lines of plane geometry.

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noun

1. geodesic line.

geodesic British  

/ -ˈdiː-, ˌdʒiːəʊˈdɛsɪk /

adjective

1. Also: geodetic.   geodesical.  relating to or involving the geometry of curved surfaces

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noun

1. Also called: geodesic line.  the shortest line between two points on a curved or plane surface

geodesic Scientific  

/ jē′ə-dĕs′ĭk,-dē′sĭk /

1. A curve that locally minimizes the distance between two points on any mathematically defined space, such as a curved manifold. Equivalently, it is a path of minimal curvature. In noncurved three-dimensional space, the geodesic is a straight line. In General Relativity, the trajectory of a body with negligible mass on which only gravitational forces are acting (i.e. a free falling body) is a geodesic in (curved) 4-dimensional space-time.

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1. Of or relating to the branch of geometry that deals with geodesics.

Etymology

Origin of geodesic

From the French word géodésique, dating back to 1815–25. See geodesy, -ic

Example Sentences

In the early ’90s, he had attended Long Beach’s mythic Spruce Goose rave, which took over the hulking geodesic dome that once housed eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes’ failed wooden plane.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026

"This equation shows that in a quantum spacetime, particles do not always move exactly along the shortest path between two points, as the classical geodesic equation would predict."

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Built in 2021, the abolitionist pods are autonomously irrigated, solar-powered geodesic domes that serve as hubs for community empowerment and healing.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2024

I’m also old enough to remember the craze over geodesic dome houses and A-frames, among other housing fads.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2024

Some I like just for their names: the barndominium, the geodesic dome, and the Queenslander; a saltbox, a snout house, or a Yaodong.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio