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▪ I. triangulate, a. (n.)|traɪˈæŋgjʊlət|
[ad. med.L. triangulāt-us triangular (Albertus Magnus, a 1255), f. L. triangul-um triangle: see -ate2; but possibly pa. pple. of med.L. *triangulāre vb.]
1. Having three angles, triangular; in later use only in Nat. Hist., applied to parts or structures of triangular form.
1611Hopton Speculum Topogr. ii. ii. 187 Be it round, square, triangulate, or multiangulate. 1819G. Samouelle Entomol. Compend. 166 Antennæ with the three last joints forming an oblong triangulate mass. 1852Dana Crust. i. 307 A few species have a somewhat triangulate and subrostrate form.
2. Made up or composed of triangles. (In later use in Nat. Hist.) † Also as n. a figure made up of triangles (obs.).
1610Hopton Baculum Geodæt. vi. xiv. 135 The sides of a tryangulate are more by 2, then the tryangles whereof he is made. 1611― Speculum Topogr. i. ii. 7 Of Triangulates. A Triangulate is a mixt figure composed of Triangles, and may be resolued into the same againe. 1766Compl. Farmer s.v. Surveying, Right-lined figures..are either triangles or triangulate, that is, such as are compounded of, and resolvable into triangles.
3. Nat. Hist. Marked with triangles; having triangular markings.
1891Cent. Dict. s.v., A triangulate bar is generally formed of triangles with their bases together..; it is a form of ornamentation common on the wings of Lepidoptera.
Hence triˈangulately adv., in a triangulate manner; triangularly; so as to form triangles.
1852Dana Crust. i. 428 Carpus triangulately dilated at inner margin. 1891Cent. Dict. s.v., A margin or surface marked triangulately with black.
▪ II. triangulate, v.|traɪˈæŋgjʊleɪt|
[f. L. triangul-um + -ate3, or f. ppl. stem of med.L. *triangulāre: cf. also F. trianguler.]
1. trans. Surveying (also transf., as in Astron.). To measure and map out (a region or territory) by tracing a series or network of triangles from a baseline and measuring their sides and angles; to determine (e.g. a distance or altitude) in this way. Also absol.
1833Herschel Astron. iv. 157 We may, as upon the earth, triangulate, by measuring..their [the stars'] angular distances from each other. 1855F. Galton in Cambr. Ess. 93 A running survey of a new country is best made by triangulating as much as is practicable. 1891Cent. Dict. s.v., To triangulate the height of a mountain.
fig.1860O. W. Holmes Elsie V. xix, A sagacious person,..who has triangulated a race, that is taken three or more observations from the several standing-places of three different generations.
b. gen. or allusively. To mark out into triangles.
1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxvi. (1856) 212 The entire plain is triangulated with ice-barricades. 1879J. Timbs in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 343/2 The system of wires..stretching across the sky-line of great thoroughfares, and visibly triangulating the metropolis in every direction.
2. To divide or convert into triangles.
1864Webster, Triangulate..2. To make triangular. 1901C. W. Brown in Cycl. Tour. Cl. Gaz. July 298/2 A plan which completely triangulates the four-sided figure of the frame and converts it into two distinct triangles.
Hence triˈangulating vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1861Wilson & Geikie Mem. E. Forbes x. 280 He was ready and eager to avail himself of a triangulating cruise with Lieutenant Spratt. Ibid. 290 Messrs. Spratt and Forbes proceeded to make the triangulating observations.
▸ intr. U.S. Polit. To position oneself politically between traditional left-wing and right-wing standpoints. Cf. triangulation n.
1995Miami Herald 28 June 15 a/5 What Morris is telling Clinton goes like this... ‘Triangulate..between the Democrat left and Republican right.’ 1998Chicago Tribune 14 Sept. i. 7/6 Now, it is congressional Democrats who seem to be the ones triangulating. 2000D. Brooks Bobos in Paradise 257 Clinton triangulated above the hard-edged warriors on left and right and presented a soft and comfortable synthesis. |
