triangulate

1 of 2

verb

tri·​an·​gu·​late trī-ˈaŋ-gyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce triangulate (audio)
triangulated; triangulating

transitive verb

1
: to survey, map, or determine by triangulation
2
a
: to divide into triangles
b
: to give triangular form to

triangulate

2 of 2

adjective

tri·​an·​gu·​late trī-ˈaŋ-gyə-lət How to pronounce triangulate (audio)
: consisting of or marked with triangles

Examples of triangulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Cadet Benjamin Brooks learned how to use direction-finding equipment to triangulate the box’s position. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2024 To make this possible, a growing list of companies is launching even more satellites into orbit and developing new methods of triangulating signals called beamforming. Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Adjective
Astronomers suspected some of these signals are likely caused by flares streaming off magnetars many billions of light-years away, but the telescopes can't quite triangulate where the signals are coming from. Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 21 Jan. 2021 In the past, ecologists would take radio receivers into the field to painstakingly triangulate tigers’ locations once or twice a day in natural landscapes. Neil Carter, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2021 See all Example Sentences for triangulate 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin triangulatus, past participle of triangulare to make triangles, from Latin triangulum

First Known Use

Verb

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of triangulate was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near triangulate

Cite this Entry

“Triangulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triangulate. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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