Magnetic meridian

Magnetic meridian
Meridian Me*rid"i*an, n. [F. m['e]ridien. See {Meridian}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Midday; noon. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence: The highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination. [1913 Webster]

I have touched the highest point of all my greatness, And from that full meridian of my glory I haste now to my setting. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. (Astron.) A great circle of the sphere passing through the poles of the heavens and the zenith of a given place. It is crossed by the sun at midday. [1913 Webster]

4. (Geog.) A great circle on the surface of the earth, passing through the poles and any given place; also, the half of such a circle included between the poles. [1913 Webster]

Note: The planes of the geographical and astronomical meridians coincide. Meridians, on a map or globe, are lines drawn at certain intervals due north and south, or in the direction of the poles. [1913 Webster]

{Calculated for the meridian of}, or {fitted to the meridian of}, or {adapted to the meridian of}, suited to the local circumstances, capabilities, or special requirements of. [1913 Webster]

All other knowledge merely serves the concerns of this life, and is fitted to the meridian thereof. --Sir M. Hale. [1913 Webster]

{First meridian} or {prime meridian}, the meridian from which longitudes are reckoned. The meridian of Greenwich is the one commonly employed in calculations of longitude by geographers, and in actual practice, although in various countries other and different meridians, chiefly those which pass through the capitals of the countries, are occasionally used; as, in France, the meridian of Paris; in the United States, the meridian of Washington, etc.

{Guide meridian} (Public Land Survey), a line, marked by monuments, running North and South through a section of country between other more carefully established meridians called principal meridians, used for reference in surveying. [U.S.]

{Magnetic meridian}, a great circle, passing through the zenith and coinciding in direction with the magnetic needle, or a line on the earth's surface having the same direction.

{Meridian circle} (Astron.), an instrument consisting of a telescope attached to a large graduated circle and so mounted that the telescope revolves like the transit instrument in a meridian plane. By it the right ascension and the declination of a star may be measured in a single observation.

{Meridian instrument} (Astron.), any astronomical instrument having a telescope that rotates in a meridian plane.

{Meridian of a globe}, or {Brass meridian}, a graduated circular ring of brass, in which the artificial globe is suspended and revolves. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • magnetic meridian — (Physics), n. An imaginary line passing through both magnetic poles of the earth. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • magnetic meridian — n. a continuous line on the earth s surface connecting the north and south magnetic poles …   English World dictionary

  • magnetic meridian — noun an imaginary line passing through both magnetic poles of the Earth • Hypernyms: ↑meridian, ↑line of longitude * * * noun : a line on the earth s surface approximating a great circle passing through the north and south magnetic poles * * * a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • magnetic meridian — A great circle of the earth which passes through the magnetic, rather than the geographical, poles of the earth. 12 Am J2d Bound § 59. A meridian established by the employment of a magnetic compass without allowing for deviations in direction… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • magnetic meridian — A great circle in the vertical plane passing through the magnetic axis of a freely suspended magnet influenced by the earth’s magnetic field and that also passed through the magnetic north and south poles …   Aviation dictionary

  • magnetic meridian — a line on the earth s surface, passing in the direction of the horizontal component of the earth s magnetic field. * * * …   Universalium

  • magnetic meridian — /mægˌnɛtɪk məˈrɪdiən/ (say mag.netik muh rideeuhn) noun an imaginary line on the earth s surface which coincides with the horizontal component of the earth s magnetic field …  

  • Meridian — Me*rid i*an, n. [F. m[ e]ridien. See {Meridian}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Midday; noon. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: The highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination. [1913 Webster] I have touched the highest point of all my… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Meridian circle — Meridian Me*rid i*an, n. [F. m[ e]ridien. See {Meridian}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Midday; noon. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: The highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination. [1913 Webster] I have touched the highest point of all… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Meridian instrument — Meridian Me*rid i*an, n. [F. m[ e]ridien. See {Meridian}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Midday; noon. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: The highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination. [1913 Webster] I have touched the highest point of all… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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