semimajor axis

sem′i•ma′jor ax′is

(ˈsɛm iˈmeɪ dʒər, ˈsɛm aɪ-, ˌsɛm i-, ˌsɛm aɪ-)
n. 1. one half the major axis of an ellipse. 2. one half the major axis of the ellipse that one celestial body describes around another, equivalent to the mean distance between the two bodies. [1925–30]

Thesaurus

Noun

semimajor axis - one-half the major axis of an ellipse; the distance from the center of an ellipse to one endaxis - a straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditionsmajor axis - the longest axis of an ellipse or ellipsoid; passes through the two foci

Translations

asse semimaggiore

semimajor axis

(sem-ee-may -jer) Symbol: a . The distance from the center of an ellipse to the edge, through the intervening focus. It is half the greatest distance across the ellipse, i.e. half the major axis. The semimajor axis of an elliptical orbit is one of the orbital elements.

semimajor axis

[‚sem·ē¦mā·jər ′ak·səs] (mathematics) Either of the equal line segments into which the major axis of an ellipse is divided by the center of symmetry.

semimajor axis

sem′i•ma′jor ax′is

semimajor axis

semimajor axis

semimajor axis

semimajor axis

Words related to semimajor axis

noun one-half the major axis of an ellipse

Related Words