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great circle |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia | 0.02 sec. |
great circleCircle drawn on a sphere such that the diameter of the circle is a diameter of the sphere. On the Earth, all meridians of longitude are half great circles; among the parallels of latitude, only the Equator is a great circle. The shortest route between two points on the Earth's surface is along the arc of a great circle. These are used extensively as air routes although on maps, owing to the distortion brought about by projection, they do not appear as straight lines. |
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| At every blow he traced around him a great circle of severed limbs. Adopting the tactics of the desert fighters from which he had sprung, Achmet Zek led his followers at a gallop in a long, thin line, describing a great circle which drew closer and closer in toward the defenders. So they all joined hands and made a great circle round the high grass. |
great circle
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