sextant
nounUK /ˈsek.stənt/
US /ˈsek.stənt/
A sextant is a tool shaped like a slice of pie that sailors use to find where they are by measuring angles to the sun or stars.
The captain used a sextant to check the ship's position under the clear night sky.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A sixth part of a circle, or an arc of 60 degrees.
The old chart divided the horizon into sextants for easier reading.
3. In mathematics, one of six equal parts of a whole.
The pie was cut into sextants so each child got a fair share.
4. A navigational tool used in astronomy to measure the angle between two celestial bodies.
Astronomers once relied on a sextant to measure the moon's position.