sextant
Other forms: sextants
A sextant is a tool for measuring the angles between heavenly bodies — the kind found in outer space. Used as a navigational tool out at sea, it helps determine a ship's longitude and latitude.
There is nothing sexy about a sextant, unless you're a sailor. Even then, in today's world of sophisticated instrumentation, it's considered quaint and old-fashioned. The noun sextant dates back to the late 16th century, from the Latin word sextans, meaning "sixth part." The sextant uses a graduated arc of 60° (there's the six reference) for measuring the altitude of the planets and stars.
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a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octanttypes:astrolabean early form of sextanttype of:measuring device, measuring instrument, measuring systeminstrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something
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a unit of angular distance equal to 60 degreestype of:angular unita unit of measurement for angles
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Vocabulary lists containing sextant
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Shipwrecked and blinded from a torpedo attack, Phillip must conquer his prejudices when his only companion is an elderly West Indian man named Timothy.
As you read Cory Doctorow's "Another Place, Another Time," learn this word list. Here are links to lists for texts in Grade 7's Collection 2: The People Could Fly, The Song of Wandering Aengus and Sonnet 43, Magic and the Brain, Another Place, Another Time, Sorry, Wrong Number