Geodetical

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Geodetic \Ge`o*det"ic\, Geodetical \Ge`o*det"ic*al\, a.
     Of or pertaining to geodesy; obtained or determined by the
     operations of geodesy; engaged in geodesy; geodesic; as,
     geodetic surveying; geodetic observers.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Geodetic line} or {Geodetic curve}, the shortest line that
        can be drawn between two points on the elipsoidal surface
        of the earth; a curve drawn on any given surface so that
        the osculating plane of the curve at every point shall
        contain the normal to the surface; the minimum line that
        can be drawn on any surface between any two points.
        [1913 Webster]