azimuth
|a-zi-muth|
/ˈæzɪməθ/
horizontal direction / compass bearing
Etymology
'azimuth' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'as-samt' (often cited as 'al-samt'), where 'samt' meant 'direction' or 'path'.
'azimuth' passed into Medieval Latin and Old Spanish/Old French (e.g. Medieval Latin 'asimut', Old Spanish 'acimut', Old French 'azimut') and was adopted into Middle English as 'azemuth' before becoming the modern English 'azimuth'.
Initially it meant 'direction' or 'the path/way'; over time it narrowed to the technical sense of a measured horizontal angle or bearing in astronomy, navigation, and surveying.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the horizontal angle or bearing measured clockwise from a reference direction (usually true north) to the point on the horizon directly beneath a celestial object; the compass direction of an object.
The sun's azimuth at sunrise is roughly 90° (due east).
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 08:38