geoid

noun

ge·​oid ˈjē-ˌȯid How to pronounce geoid (audio)
: the surface within or around the earth that is everywhere normal to the direction of gravity and coincides with mean sea level in the oceans
geoidal adjective

Examples of geoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This theoretical version of our watery world is known as the geoid. Brooke Jarvis, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024 The Earth’s interior is also made of different materials that impact gravity, creating lumps called geoids, like the one in the Indian Ocean. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023 If the Earth were a uniform sphere, that geoid would be even, smooth, and largely uninteresting. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023 The differences in Earth’s gravity are actually quite small, so most visual representations of the geoid are exaggerated to highlight the bumpiness, Shum told me. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 10 July 2023 This produces an exaggerated visualization of our planet’s gravitational high and low spots called the global geoid. Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 26 June 2023 The resulting geoid resembles a bizarre, lumpy Earth. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011 Through this, satellite movements could be accurately calculated, and a model of Earth formed — also known as a geoid. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2023 This kind of map - called a geoid - is a standard reference used by topographic maps, and also helps scientists understand how ocean currents flow, how ocean water circulates, and even better understand the dynamics of sea wave heights. Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'geoid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Greek geoeidēs earthlike, from

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of geoid was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near geoid

Cite this Entry

“Geoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geoid. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

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