Geodetic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌd͡ʒiː.əˈdɛt.ɪk/

Definitions

1. Relating to the precision measurement of Earth's shape and features, this term encompasses methods for calculating coordinates and understanding gravity on a global scale
2. Connected with the scientific study and measurement of the Earth's size, shape, and gravitational field
3. Involving techniques used to determine precise locations and distances on or near the planet's surface

Etymology: Before it described the measurement of the planet, the root of this word meant simply dividing land. It comes from Greek "geōdaisia," built from "gē," earth, and "daiein," to divide. The earliest sense was the splitting of ground into portions, the practical work of marking out fields and boundaries. Measuring the whole earth grew out of that task. The adjective adds "-ic" to "geodesy," the discipline of determining the earth's size and shape, so it describes anything belonging to that work, such as the curved reference systems used to survey the globe.