Illustration of azimuth
- 1 horizon
- 2 zenith
- 3 star
- 4 meridian
- 5 vertical circle
- 6 azimuth
- 7 observer
azimuth
noun
az·i·muth ˈaz-məth 
ˈa-zə-
1
: an arc of the horizon measured between a fixed point (such as true north) and the vertical circle passing through the center of an object usually in astronomy and navigation clockwise from the north point through 360 degrees
2
: horizontal direction expressed as the angular distance between the direction of a fixed point (such as the observer's heading) and the direction of the object
azimuthal
ˌa-zə-ˈmə-thəl
adjective azimuthally
ˌa-zə-ˈmə-thə-lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The heading to the smoke is called an azimuth, the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing. 
Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2022 This entailed drilling vertically and then building a curved section at 5°/100 ft drilled, and finally maintaining a lateral at 65° to the vertical, for about 4,300 feet in an azimuth just south of east (N105E). Ian Palmer, Forbes, 19 May 2022 The go-anywhere vessel is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system comprising an electric motor, four diesel generators, two azimuth thrusters and the requisite battery packs. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2021 Powered by a single 2,000 hp Caterpillar diesel engine with an azimuth thruster, the vessel has a top speed of 15 knots. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2021 The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 July 2021 The interference caused by Gorshkov’s radar can identify the radar azimuth and even individual radar pulses. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 11 Dec. 2020 On June 21, the sun sets at an azimuth of 302 degrees, or 32 degrees north of due west. Joe Rao, Scientific American, 29 May 2018 But for the setting sun to be seen from all of Manhattan’s cross streets, its azimuth must be 299 degrees, or 29 degrees north of due west. Joe Rao, Scientific American, 29 May 2018 See More
Noah Davis, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2022 This entailed drilling vertically and then building a curved section at 5°/100 ft drilled, and finally maintaining a lateral at 65° to the vertical, for about 4,300 feet in an azimuth just south of east (N105E). Ian Palmer, Forbes, 19 May 2022 The go-anywhere vessel is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system comprising an electric motor, four diesel generators, two azimuth thrusters and the requisite battery packs. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2021 Powered by a single 2,000 hp Caterpillar diesel engine with an azimuth thruster, the vessel has a top speed of 15 knots. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2021 The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 July 2021 The interference caused by Gorshkov’s radar can identify the radar azimuth and even individual radar pulses. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 11 Dec. 2020 On June 21, the sun sets at an azimuth of 302 degrees, or 32 degrees north of due west. Joe Rao, Scientific American, 29 May 2018 But for the setting sun to be seen from all of Manhattan’s cross streets, its azimuth must be 299 degrees, or 29 degrees north of due west. Joe Rao, Scientific American, 29 May 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Medieval Latin azimut, from Arabic al-sumūt the azimuth, plural of al-samt the way
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1