What does "triangulation" mean?
A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.
Triangulation
/tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique.
- Grammar: triangulation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: analytic triangulation, angle-based triangulation, appraisal, appraisement.
- Usage evidence: Triangulation is a sequence of three moves performed by one of the kings in order to return to the same position with the advantage of the opposition, which leaves the other king in zugzwang.
How to use "triangulation"
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "triangulation" in a final draft.
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Definition decision workflow
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique. uncountable
"The season of 1835–36 was employed in carrying on the triangulation; in which Colonel [George] Everest was much impeded by a long continuance of hazy and cloudy weather. It appears, however, that the principal triangulation was brought down to the line from Juktipura to Pagara; […]"
- 2 a method of surveying; the area is divided into triangles and the length of one side and its angles with the other two are measured, then the lengths of the other sides can be calculated wordnet
- 3 The network of triangles so obtained, that are the basis of a chart or map. countable
"[…] I have placed myself in communication with the Astronomer Royal, for the purpose of considering the steps necessary to be taken to effect the connexion required, between the triangulation of Great Britain and that of Belgium. […] I have also placed myself in communication with General Nerenburger, Director of the Dêpot de la Guerre at Brussels, and have received from him the diagram of the Belgian triangulation, with descriptions of the stations with which it is necessary to connect our triangulation, and we possess a copy of the triangulation of France."
- 4 a trigonometric method of determining the position of a fixed point from the angles to it from two fixed points of a known distance apart; useful in navigation wordnet
- 5 A delaying move in which the king moves in a triangular path to force the advance of a pawn. countable
"[page 76] At this point, it may be useful to refer to a word that has been used in connection with earlier examples. The King has been said to indulge in a process called Triangulation. The word is harder than the idea. The basic fact is that the King can move to an adjacent square in one move, two moves or three moves, without returning to its point of origin. […] [page 77] This diagram […] shows a position where the triangulation is vital."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A subdivision of a planar object into triangles, and by extension the subdivision of a higher-dimension geometric object into simplices. countable
"Regular triangulations are a class in-between lifting and lexicographic triangulations. Their main draw-back in the context of this paper is that regularity depends on the specific realization and not only on the oriented matroid."
- 7 A process by which an unknown location is found using three known distances from known locations. uncountable
"A special advantage of radar is that it works during darkness and other periods of low visibility, which prevent visual triangulation and aircraft techniques for measuring nuclear clouds."
- 8 The practice of repositioning one's group or oneself on the political spectrum in an attempt to capture the centre. uncountable
"Triangulation was a presidential leadership strategy that presented the president as having borrowed elements of both the right and the left to develop some form of center policy amalgam."
- 9 The use of three (or more) researchers to interview the same people or to evaluate the same evidence to reduce the impact of individual bias. uncountable
"One recent attempt to combine both forms of data collection […] was based on a parallel methods approach, in which the results of two similar but separately located studies were triangulated. Triangulation entails overlapping the results at several points to enhance reliability. […] Other documented research has attempted to gain a broader view through the triangulation of two sets of data (quantitative and qualitative) on the same question, taken from the same respondents in a single study."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Triangulation is a sequence of three moves performed by one of the kings in order to return to the same position with the advantage of the opposition, which leaves the other king in zugzwang."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "triangulation"?
Common synonyms include: analytic triangulation, angle-based triangulation, appraisal, appraisement, approximation, ascertaining.
How do you use "triangulation" in a sentence?
Triangulation is a sequence of three moves performed by one of the kings in order to return to the same position with the advantage of the opposition, which leaves the other king in zugzwang.
How do you pronounce "triangulation"?
Pronounced /tɹaɪˌæŋɡjʊˈleɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin triangulātiō (“triangulation”), from triangulō (“to triangulate”) + -tiō (noun-forming suffix). Triangulō is derived from triangulus (“triangular; triangle”), from trēs (“three”) + angulus (“angle; corner”). By surface analysis, triangulate + ion; cognate with French triangulation.