triangulate

[ adjective trahy-ang-gyuh-lit, -leyt; verb trahy-ang-gyuh-leyt ]

adjective

1. composed of or marked with triangles.

verb (used with object)

, tri·an·gu·lat·ed, tri·an·gu·lat·ing.

1. to make triangular.
2. to divide into triangles.
3. to survey (an area) by triangulation.

triangulate

verb

1. 1. to survey by the method of triangulation
   2. to calculate trigonometrically
2. to divide into triangles
3. to make triangular

adjective

1. marked with or composed of triangles

Derived Forms

• triˈangulately, adverb

Other Words From

• tri·angu·lator noun
• subtri·angu·late adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of triangulate¹

1600–10; < Medieval Latin triangulātus, past participle of triangulāre to make triangles. See triangle, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Just measure the exact arrival time of a seismic wave at three or more locations, and you can triangulate the source.

From Quanta Magazine

Throughout the 1850s, Douglas triangulated between his Northern constituents and his Southern colleagues.

From Washington Post

She’s also laid out a precise conjecture that predicts how many tiles are needed to triangulate any amplituhedron.

From Quanta Magazine

That means the cells of the positive Grassmannian can serve as the tiles needed to triangulate the amplituhedron.

From Quanta Magazine

That said, the company seemed to have triangulated my potential size and gave me a couple of options to try.

From TechCrunch

“I need [my team] to triangulate as many sources as possible and we then accept the most credible,” Francesco Motta said.

From The Daily Beast

“There is no desire to triangulate or distance ourselves from Democrats,” a senior administration official said.

From The Daily Beast

“Obama May Have to Triangulate Like Clinton If His Party Loses U.S. House,” announced a headline last week on Bloomberg.com.

From The Daily Beast

As before of a line was made a lineate: so here in like manner of a triangle is made a triangulate.

From Project Gutenberg

Such is the Adscription of a triangle: The adscription of an ordinate triangulate is now to be taught.

From Project Gutenberg

If I had a transit, I could calculate the depth at any point where the water shows––triangulate with a vertical angle.

From Project Gutenberg

“You could triangulate at the first place where the bottom can be seen, beyond here,” suggested Genevieve.

From Project Gutenberg

And thus much of the geodesy of right lines, by the meanes of rectangled triangles: It followeth now of the triangulate.

From Project Gutenberg