ALIDADE

alidade, alidad

(noun) surveying instrument used with a plane table for drawing lines of sight on a distant object and for measuring angles

alidade, alidad

(noun) surveying instrument consisting of the upper movable part of a theodolite including the telescope and its attachments

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

alidade (plural alidades)

(cartography, astronomy, surveying) A sighting device used for measuring angles.

Synonyms

• turning board, diopter (obsolete)

Source: Wiktionary


Al"i*dade, n. Etym: [LL. alidada, alhidada, fr. Ar. al-'idada a sort of rule: cf. F. alidade.]

Definition: The portion of a graduated instrument, as a quadrant or astrolabe, carrying the sights or telescope, and showing the degrees cut off on the arc of the instrument Whewell.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 April 2025

BRIGHT

(adjective) made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow; “bright silver candlesticks”; “a burnished brass knocker”; “she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves”; “rows of shining glasses”; “shiny black patents”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.

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