Vertical circle

Vertical circle
Vertical Ver"ti*cal, a. [Cf. F. vertical. See {Vertex}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to the vertex; situated at the vertex, or highest point; directly overhead, or in the zenith; perpendicularly above one. [1913 Webster]

Charity . . . is the vertical top of all religion. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

2. Perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb; as, a vertical line. [1913 Webster]

{Vertical angle} (Astron. & Geod.), an angle measured on a vertical circle, called an angle of elevation, or altitude, when reckoned from the horizon upward, and of depression when downward below the horizon.

{Vertical anthers} (Bot.), such anthers as stand erect at the top of the filaments.

{Vertical circle} (Astron.), an azimuth circle. See under {Azimuth}.

{Vertical drill}, an drill. See under {Upright}.

{Vertical fire} (Mil.), the fire, as of mortars, at high angles of elevation.

{Vertical leaves} (Bot.), leaves which present their edges to the earth and the sky, and their faces to the horizon, as in the Australian species of Eucalyptus.

{Vertical limb}, a graduated arc attached to an instrument, as a theodolite, for measuring vertical angles.

{Vertical line}. (a) (Dialing) A line perpendicular to the horizon. (b) (Conic Sections) A right line drawn on the vertical plane, and passing through the vertex of the cone. (c) (Surv.) The direction of a plumb line; a line normal to the surface of still water. (d) (Geom., Drawing, etc.) A line parallel to the sides of a page or sheet, in distinction from a horizontal line parallel to the top or bottom.

{Vertical plane}. (a) (Conic Sections) A plane passing through the vertex of a cone, and through its axis. (b) (Projections) Any plane which passes through a vertical line. (c) (Persp.) The plane passing through the point of sight, and perpendicular to the ground plane, and also to the picture.

{Vertical sash}, a sash sliding up and down. Cf. {French sash}, under 3d {Sash}.

{Vertical steam engine}, a steam engine having the crank shaft vertically above or below a vertical cylinder. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Vertical circle — Circle Cir cle (s[ e]r k l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri kos, ki rkos, circle, ring. Cf. {Circus}, {Circum }.] [1913 Webster] 1. A plane figure, bounded by a single… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • vertical circle — n. Astron. any great circle of the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and the nadir and perpendicular to the horizon …   English World dictionary

  • Vertical circle — Azimuth Az i*muth, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar. as sum?t, pl. of as samt a way, or perh., a point of the horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith, as being the Arabic article: cf. It. azzimutto, Pg. azimuth, and Ar. samt al… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vertical circle — In astronomy, a vertical circle is a great circle on the celestial sphere that is perpendicular to the horizon. Therefore it passes through the zenith and the nadir. There is a vertical circle for any given direction. The vertical circle which is …   Wikipedia

  • vertical circle — A great circle of the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles as well as the observer’s zenith and nadir. Vertical circles are perpendicular to the horizon. The prime vertical circle, or the prime vertical, passes through the east… …   Aviation dictionary

  • vertical circle — /vɜtɪkəl ˈsɜkəl/ (say vertikuhl serkuhl) noun 1. Astronomy a great circle on the celestial sphere which passes through the zenith and cuts the horizon at right angles. 2. Surveying the graduated circular plate of a theodolite used for measuring… …  

  • vertical circle — noun a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon • Hypernyms: ↑great circle …   Useful english dictionary

  • vertical circle — noun Date: 1559 a great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is perpendicular to that of the horizon see azimuth illustration …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • vertical circle — Astron. a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith. [1550 60] * * * …   Universalium

  • vertical circle — ver′tical cir′cle n. astron. a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith • Etymology: 1550–60 …   From formal English to slang

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