triangulation

American  

[trahy-ang-gyuh-ley-shuhn] / traɪˌæŋ gyəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Surveying, Navigation.

1. a technique for establishing the distance between any two points, or the relative position of two or more points, by using such points as vertices of a triangle or series of triangles, such that each triangle has a side of known or measurable length base, or base line that permits the size of the angles of the triangle and the length of its other two sides to be established by observations taken either upon or from the two ends of the base line.

2. the triangles thus formed and measured.

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triangulation British  

/ traɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. a method of surveying in which an area is divided into triangles, one side (the base line) and all angles of which are measured and the lengths of the other lines calculated trigonometrically

2. the network of triangles so formed

3. the fixing of an unknown point, as in navigation, by making it one vertex of a triangle, the other two being known

4. chess a key manoeuvre in the endgame in which the king moves thrice in a triangular path to leave the opposing king with the move and at a disadvantage

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triangulation Scientific  

/ trī-ăng′gyə-lā′shən /

1. A method of determining the relative positions of points in space by measuring the distances, and sometimes angles, between those points and other reference points whose positions are known. Triangulation often involves the use of trigonometry. It is commonly used in the navigation of aircraft and boats, and is the method used in the Global Positioning System , in which the reference points are satellites.

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Etymology

Origin of triangulation

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin triangulātiōn- (stem of triangulātiō ) “the making of triangles”; triangulate, -ion

Example Sentences

And for millions of us, it was finally, oh my God, finally, the right answer, delivered cogently and passionately, without apology or triangulation.

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2024

A new and sophisticated signal-finding antenna, which resembles a carousel, uses triangulation to locate where the radio waves are emanating from.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024

This method involves measuring parallax angles, with the help of the satellite, through a form of triangulation between Gaia's location in space, the Sun and the star in question.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2023

As the mythology goes, it was strategist Dick Morris who birthed the political concept of triangulation.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2022

Every evening Werner works in Dr. Hauptmann’s lab, alternately plugging numbers into triangulation formulas or engineering: Hauptmann wants him to improve the efficiency and power of a directional radio transceiver he is designing.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr