sextant

Vocabulary Word

Definition

A 'sextant' is a specialized navigational tool. Sailors and explorers use it to measure the angle between a heavenly object, like a star or the sun, and the horizon. This tells them how far north or south they are from the equator.

Examples in Different Contexts

In technology development, creating a 'sextant' equivalent involves designing tools capable of precise measurements and assessments. A tech developer might state, 'Our new software acts like a sextant, enabling users to accurately measure and analyze data variables.'

Practice Scenarios

Maritime

Scenario:

The GPS system is malfunctioning, and we might need to navigate in a more traditional manner.

Response:

I'll use the sextant we have on board to help us determine our latitude.

Aerospace

Scenario:

We've lost contact with ground control. We'll have to navigate using the stars until we reestablish connection.

Response:

We'll use the sextant to compute our angles with reference to the observed heavenly bodies.