a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small tripod-mounted telescope that is free to move in both the horizontal and vertical planes
Also called (in the US and Canada): transit
Derived forms
theodolitic (θɪˌɒdəˈlɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from New Latin theodolitus, of uncertain origin
theodolite in American English
(θiˈɑdəˌlaɪt)
noun
a surveying instrument used to measure vertical and horizontal angles
Derived forms
theodolitic (theˌodoˈlitic) (θiˌɑdəˈlɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
ModL theodelitus: prob. invented (c. 1571) by Leonard Digges, Eng mathematician
Examples of 'theodolite' in a sentence
theodolite
Just behind Miss Sauvage-Brown was a tripod, a theodolite lying on the ground.