Rhumb Line (Noun)
Meaning
A line on a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same angle; the path taken by a ship or plane that maintains a constant compass direction.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The rhumb line is often used in navigation as a way to simplify the process of charting a course across long distances.
- In the early days of aviation, pilots relied heavily on the rhumb line to stay on course during long flights.
- The ship's captain carefully plotted the rhumb line to ensure they would reach their destination as quickly as possible.
- Because the Earth is a sphere, a rhumb line will eventually deviate from a great circle route, which is the shortest distance between two points.
- The pilot's use of the rhumb line allowed her to maintain a constant compass direction, even as the landscape below changed dramatically.