Pronunciation: /ˈsek.stənt/

Definitions of sextant

noun A navigational instrument used to measure the angle between two visible objects, typically the horizon and a celestial body, to determine latitude and longitude.

Example Sentences

A1 A sextant is a navigation tool used by sailors to determine their position at sea.

A2 The sailor used a sextant to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial body.

B1 Learning how to use a sextant is an important skill for anyone interested in sailing or navigation.

B2 The captain relied on his sextant to navigate through the rough waters of the open ocean.

C1 The precision of a sextant allows for accurate celestial navigation even in challenging conditions.

C2 Experienced navigators can determine their exact position using a sextant and the stars with great accuracy.

Examples of sextant in a Sentence

formal The sailor used a sextant to determine their position at sea.

informal I found an old sextant in my grandfather's attic.

slang Hey, check out this cool sextant I picked up at the flea market!

figurative In the journey of life, a good education can act as a sextant guiding you towards success.

Grammatical Forms of sextant

past tense

sextanted

plural

sextants

comparative

more sextant

superlative

most sextant

present tense

sextants

future tense

will sextant

perfect tense

have sextanted

continuous tense

are sextanting

singular

sextant

positive degree

sextant

infinitive

to sextant

gerund

sextanting

participle

sextanting

Origin and Evolution of sextant

First Known Use: 1757 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'sextant' comes from the Latin word 'sextans', which means 'one sixth'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in navigation to measure the angle between two visible objects, the term 'sextant' has evolved to also refer to a similar instrument used in astronomy for measuring the altitude of celestial bodies.