geodesy

Aug. 23rd, 2012 07:09 am
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geodesy (jee-OD-uh-see) - n., the branch of science dealing with measurements and representations of the earth.


Including the determination of precise locations upon it, the motion of same (due to tides, crustal motion, et cet.), and of the gravitational field. Formerly, surveying on the larger scales, on the scale of maps as opposed to farms (in German this sense is called Ingenieurgeodäsie, "engineering geodesy," as opposed to the höhere Geodäsie, "higher geodesy," of the main definition). Also called geodetics. Borrowed in the 1560s from French géodésie, from Greek geōdaisía, from geō-, earth + daiesthai, to divide.

---L.

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