Meanings
plural geodesics
- spherical geometryA segment of a great circle.
- mathematicsA course allowing the parallel-transport of vectors along a course that causes tangent vectors to remain tangent vectors throughout that course (a straight curve, a line that is straight).
comparative more geodesic · superlative most geodesic
- Of or relating to geodesy.
- Of or relating to a geodesic dome.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveof or relating to or determined by geodesy
noun(mathematics) the shortest line between two points on a mathematically defined surface (as a straight line on a plane or an arc of a great circle on a sphere)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchgéodésique
- Englishgeodesic
From French géodésique. By surface analysis, geodesy + -ic.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian геодезичен
- геодезичен (geodezičen)of or relating to geodesy
Catalan geodèsica, geodèsic
- geodèsicamathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- geodèsicof or relating to geodesy
Chinese Mandarin 测地线
- 测地线 (cèdìxiàn)mathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
Czech geodetika, ortodroma
- geodetikamathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- ortodromamathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
Danish geodætisk, geodætisk
- geodætiskof or relating to geodesy
- geodætiskof or relating to a geodesic dome
Dutch geodeet
- geodeetmathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
Finnish geodeesi, geodeettinen
- geodeesimathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- geodeettinenof or relating to geodesy
- geodeettinenof or relating to a geodesic dome
French géodésique
- géodésiquemathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
German Geodäte, geodätisch
- Geodätemathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- geodätischof or relating to geodesy
Icelandic gagnvegur, gagnvega-
- gagnvegurmathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- gagnvega-of or relating to geodesy
Norwegian Bokmål geodetisk
- geodetiskof or relating to a geodesic dome
Portuguese geodésica
- geodésicamathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
Spanish geodésica, geodésico
- geodésicamathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
- geodésicoof or relating to geodesy
Tagalog dusukatin
- dusukatinof or relating to geodesy
Turkish jeodezik
- jeodezikmathematics: the shortest line between two points on a specific surface
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with geodesic
All rhymes →Cite this entry
geodesic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geodesic
“geodesic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geodesic. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “geodesic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geodesic.
Source: geodesic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.