sextant
IPA: sˈɛkstʌnt
noun
- (nautical) A navigational device for deriving angular distances between objects so as to determine latitude and longitude.
- (geometry) One sixth of a circle or disc; a sector with an angle of 60°.
- (dentistry) One of six groups of adjacent teeth, excluding the wisdom teeth. The front sextants go from canine to canine, and there are sextants on the right and left of these. See w:Periodontal examination.
- (astronomy) The constellation Sextans.
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Examples of "sextant" in Sentences
- The ancient sailors relied on the sextant to navigate the open seas
- The sextant allowed the captain to determine their exact position using celestial bodies
- Before the invention of GPS, the sextant was a crucial tool for ocean navigation
- The sailor carefully adjusted the sextant to measure the angle between the horizon and the stars
- Using the sextant, the navigator was able to plot the ship's course with great precision
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