great_circle (HyperDic hyper-dictionary)

English > 1 sense of the expression *great circle*:
NOUN	location	great circle	a circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center

English > *great circle*: 1 sense > noun 1, location
Meaning	A circular line on the surface of a sphere formed by intersecting it with a plane passing through the center.
Narrower	celestial equator, equinoctial circle, equinoctial line, equinoctial	The great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles
	ecliptic	The great circle representing the apparent annual path of the sun
	equator	An imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles
	horizon, celestial horizon	The great circle on the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the sensible horizon and the center of the Earth
	hour circle	A great circle on the celestial sphere that passes through both celestial poles
	meridian, line of longitude	An imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator
	vertical circle	A great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon
Broader	line	A spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent

HyperDic: great_circle