astrometry
|as-trom-e-try|
🇺🇸
/əˈstrɑmətri/
🇬🇧
/əˈstrɒmətri/
measuring stars' positions
Etymology
'astrometry' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'astron' and 'metron', where 'astron' meant 'star' and 'metron' meant 'measure'.
'astrometry' came into English via New Latin/Modern scientific coinage from Greek elements (Greek 'astron' + 'metron'), forming Late Latin/New Latin 'astrometria', which then became English 'astrometry'.
Initially it meant 'the measurement of stars', and over time it has come to mean the precise measurement of positions, motions, and distances of celestial objects in general.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the branch of astronomy that deals with measuring the positions, motions, and distances of celestial bodies.
Modern astrometry measures stellar positions to such precision that tiny motions caused by orbiting planets can be detected.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/08 10:56