rhumb line

See synonyms for rhumb line on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a curve on the surface of a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same angle. It is the path taken by a vessel or aircraft that maintains a constant compass direction.

Origin of rhumb line

1
First recorded in 1660–70

Words Nearby rhumb line

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rhumb line in a sentence

  • rhumb line, a circle on the earth's surface making a given angle with the meridian; applied to the course of a ship in navigation.

    The Nuttall Encyclopaedia | Edited by Rev. James Wood

British Dictionary definitions for rhumb line

rhumb line

noun
  1. an imaginary line on the surface of a sphere, such as the earth, that intersects all meridians at the same angle

  2. the course navigated by a vessel or aircraft that maintains a uniform compass heading

Origin of rhumb line

1
C16: from Old Spanish rumbo, apparently from Middle Dutch ruum space, ship's hold, but also influenced by Latin rhombus
  • Often shortened to: rhumb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012