Definition of planisphere in English:
planisphere
noun ˈplanɪsfɪəˈplænəˌsfɪr
A map formed by the projection of a sphere or part of a sphere on a plane, especially an adjustable circular star map that shows the appearance of the heavens at a specific time and place.
Example sentencesExamples
- Out of this flat tropical planisphere rises a series four man-made mountain peaks, each echoed by a ripple of lesser man-made hillocks.
- Also known as a star wheel, a planisphere is the secret decoder of the sky.
- On the third floor of the Paris Observatory Cassini had laid out a planisphere, a map of the World using an azimuthal projection with the North Pole at the centre.
- Planispheres for now have as north pole the Polaris.
- Emerging from the whitewashed labyrinth of the Stone Town I found myself looking straight onto a pair of large nineteenth century buildings, both built immediately against the flat blue planisphere of the sea.
Derivatives
adjective planɪˈsfɛrɪk
By far the most popular type is the planispheric astrolabe, on which the celestial sphere is projected onto the plane of the equator.
Origin
Late Middle English planisperie, from medieval Latin planisphaerium, from Latin planus 'level' + sphaera 'sphere'; later influenced by French planisphère.
Definition of planisphere in US English:
planisphere
nounˈplanəˌsfirˈplænəˌsfɪr
A map formed by the projection of a sphere or part of a sphere on a plane, especially an adjustable circular star map that shows the appearance of the heavens at a specific time and place.
Example sentencesExamples
- Also known as a star wheel, a planisphere is the secret decoder of the sky.
- Planispheres for now have as north pole the Polaris.
- Out of this flat tropical planisphere rises a series four man-made mountain peaks, each echoed by a ripple of lesser man-made hillocks.
- On the third floor of the Paris Observatory Cassini had laid out a planisphere, a map of the World using an azimuthal projection with the North Pole at the centre.
- Emerging from the whitewashed labyrinth of the Stone Town I found myself looking straight onto a pair of large nineteenth century buildings, both built immediately against the flat blue planisphere of the sea.
Origin
Late Middle English planisperie, from medieval Latin planisphaerium, from Latin planus ‘level’ + sphaera ‘sphere’; later influenced by French planisphère.