triangulate

[adj. trahy-ang-gyuh-lit, -leyt; v. trahy-ang-gyuh-leyt] /adj. traɪˈæŋ gyə lɪt, -ˌleɪt; v. traɪˈæŋ gyəˌleɪt/

adjective

composed of or marked with triangles.

verb (used with object), triangulated, triangulating.

to make triangular.

to divide into triangles.

to survey (an area) by triangulation.

Origin

1600-10; < Medieval Latin triangulātus, past participle of triangulāre to make triangles. See triangle, -ate¹

Related forms

triangulator, noun

subtriangulate, adjective

Examples from the web for triangulate

When a seizure occurs, doctors triangulate the origin of the aberrant electrical activity.
The ships set out transponders that the subs use to triangulate their position from the ships.
None had any means by which to triangulate such a spectacle into a vision even remotely resembling the modern one.
Previously, trucks had to wait until enough calls came in to let them triangulate the location of an outage.
It sends a signal to a satellite allowing scientists to triangulate the bird's position.
The researchers compare genetic markers from the tusks with the genetic-variability map and triangulate the source of the ivory.
Of course, if you want to use the phone, they can triangulate and pinpoint you with the cell towers during the call itself.
The bees, it appears, are able to triangulate as well as a civil engineer.
Since there are four cameras in the network, they could triangulate on the meteor, getting its height off the ground.
The data was sent to central processing unit, where input from a number of sensors was used to triangulate a solution.

British Dictionary definitions for triangulate

verb (transitive) (traɪˈæŋɡjʊˌleɪt)

to divide into triangles

to make triangular

adjective (traɪˈæŋɡjʊlɪt; -ˌleɪt)

marked with or composed of triangles

Derived Forms

triangulately, adverb

Word Origin and History for triangulate

1833, originally in surveying," from Latin triangulum (see triangle) + -ate (2). Related: Triangulated; triangulating. Figurative use by 1860.