azimuth

UK: /ˈæzɪməθ/ US: /ˈæzəməθ/ ,(az′ə məth)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

az•i•muth /ˈæzəməθ/   n. [countable]

1. Astronomy, Nautical, Naval Terms an angle or arc used to measure direction and distance in astronomy, navigation, surveying, gunnery, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

az•i•muth  (az′ə məth), n. 

1. Astronomy, Nautical, Naval Terms the arc of the horizon measured clockwise from the south point, in astronomy, or from the north point, in navigation, to the point where a vertical circle through a given heavenly body intersects the horizon.
2. Surveying the angle of horizontal deviation, measured clockwise, of a bearing from a standard direction, as from north or south.

• Middle French Arabic as sumūt the ways (i.e., directions)
• 1350–1400; Middle English azimut

az•i•muth•al  (az′ə muth′əl), adj.  az′i•muth′al•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

azimuth / ˈæzɪməθ/ noun

1. the angular distance usually measured clockwise from the north point of the horizon to the intersection with the horizon of the vertical circle passing through a celestial body
   Compare altitude3
2. the horizontal angle of a bearing clockwise from a standard direction, such as north

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French azimut, from Arabic as-sumūt, plural of as-samt the path, from Latin semita path

azimuthal / ˌæzɪˈmʌθəl/ adjective