sextant Definition
a navigational instrument used to measure the angle between two visible objects, such as the horizon and a star, used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude.
Using sextant: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "sextant" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The captain used a sextant to determine the ship's position.
Example
The sextant is an essential tool for navigation at sea.
Example
The sailor adjusted the sextant to measure the angle of the sun.
sextant Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for sextant
- navigation instrument
- marine sextant
- astronomical sextant
Phrases with sextant
the difference between the true altitude of a celestial body and the altitude measured by the sextant
Example
The navigator corrected the course based on the sextant error.
Example
The sailor recorded the sextant altitude of the star to calculate the ship's position.
Example
The navigator took a sextant reading of the sun and the horizon to determine the ship's latitude.
Origins of sextant
from Latin 'sextans', meaning 'one sixth'
Summary: sextant in Brief
A 'sextant' [ˈsekstənt] is a navigational instrument used to measure the angle between two visible objects, such as the horizon and a star, to determine a ship's latitude and longitude. It is an essential tool for navigation at sea, and its readings are used to correct the course of a ship. Phrases like 'sextant error' and 'sextant altitude' refer to specific aspects of the instrument's use.
