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Dictionary Language resources

almucantar

Pronunciation: /ˌalməˈkantə/

Definition of almucantar

noun

1 Astronomy a circle on the celestial sphere parallel to the horizon; a parallel of altitude.

2a telescope mounted on a float resting on mercury, used to determine stellar altitude and azimuth.

Origin:

Middle English: from medieval Latin almucantarath or obsolete French almucantara, from Arabic al-muqanṭarāt 'lines of celestial latitude', based on al 'the' + qanṭara 'arch'