TRIANGULATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does triangulate mean? 

• TRIANGULATE (adjective)
  The adjective TRIANGULATE has 1 sense:

1. composed of or marked with triangles

  Familiarity information: TRIANGULATE used as an adjective is very rare.

• TRIANGULATE (verb)
  The verb TRIANGULATE has 3 senses:

1. divide into triangles or give a triangular form to

2. measure by using trigonometry

3. survey by triangulation

  Familiarity information: TRIANGULATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRIANGULATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Composed of or marked with triangles

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

triangle (a three-sided polygon)

• TRIANGULATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they triangulate    ... he / she / it triangulates   
Past simple: triangulated   
Past participle: triangulated   
-ing form: triangulating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Divide into triangles or give a triangular form to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

triangulate the piece of cardboard

Hypernyms (to "triangulate" is one way to...):

carve up; dissever; divide; separate; split; split up (separate into parts or portions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

triangle (a three-sided polygon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Measure by using trigonometry

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

triangulate the angle

Hypernyms (to "triangulate" is one way to...):

measure; measure out; mensurate (determine the measurements of something or somebody, take measurements of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

triangulation (a trigonometric method of determining the position of a fixed point from the angles to it from two fixed points a known distance apart; useful in navigation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Survey by triangulation

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

The land surveyor worked by triangulating the plot

Hypernyms (to "triangulate" is one way to...):

survey (plot a map of (land))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

triangle (a three-sided polygon)

triangulation (a method of surveying; the area is divided into triangles and the length of one side and its angles with the other two are measured, then the lengths of the other sides can be calculated)