theodolite

noun

the·​od·​o·​lite thē-ˈä-də-ˌlīt How to pronounce theodolite (audio)
: a surveyor's instrument for measuring horizontal and usually also vertical angles

Examples of theodolite in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lyra used a state-of-the-art theodolite, a precision instrument that computes angles in both the horizontal and vertical planes, and Rondon had a compass and a barometer to gauge the river’s altitude above sea level. — Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023 When Romero leaned away from the screen, one eyebrow drifting upward, Sanchez scrolled down the webpage and began circling his mouse over a picture of a construction worker in an orange vest peering into a theodolite, an instrument surveyors use to measure angles. — Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin theodelitus

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of theodolite was in 1571

Rhymes for theodolite

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Cite this Entry

“Theodolite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theodolite. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

theodolite

noun
the·​od·​o·​lite thē-ˈäd-ᵊl-ˌīt How to pronounce theodolite (audio)
: a very precise surveyor's transit

More from Merriam-Webster on theodolite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about theodolite

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