WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Co•ri•o′lis effect′
(kôr′ē ō′lis),USA pronunciation
- Astronomythe apparent deflection (Corio′lis accelera′tion) of a body in motion with respect to the earth, as seen by an observer on the earth, attributed to a fictitious force (Corio′lis force′) but actually caused by the rotation of the earth and appearing as a deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and a deflection to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Also called deflecting force.
- named after Gaspard German. Coriolis (died 1843), French civil engineer 1965–70
'Coriolis effect' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):