Nautical Mile (Noun)
Meaning 1
A former British unit of length equivalent to 6,080 feet (1,853.184 meters); 800 feet longer than a statute mile.
Classification
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure.
Examples
- The sailor carefully measured the distance between the two islands in nautical miles to ensure a safe passage.
- The yacht's speed was recorded in knots, with one knot equal to one nautical mile per hour.
- The lighthouse's range was calculated to be 20 nautical miles, warning ships of the rocky coastline.
- The captain had to convert the distance from statute miles to nautical miles to accurately plot their course.
- The racing boat's speed was an impressive 50 knots, covering over 50 nautical miles in just one hour.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
A unit of length used in navigation; exactly 1,852 meters; historically based on the distance spanned by one minute of arc in latitude.
Classification
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure.
Examples
- The distance between the two ports was measured in nautical miles to calculate the time and fuel required for the journey.
- A nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude, making it a useful unit for navigation and charting.
- The boat's speed was recorded in knots, which is equivalent to nautical miles per hour.
- To avoid getting lost, the sailors used a sextant to measure their position in degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude, which could be converted to nautical miles.
- The chart indicated that the lighthouse was five nautical miles due east of their current position, providing a vital landmark for navigation.