ASTROLABE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does astrolabe mean? 

• ASTROLABE (noun)
  The noun ASTROLABE has 1 sense:

1. an early form of sextant

  Familiarity information: ASTROLABE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASTROLABE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An early form of sextant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("astrolabe" is a kind of...):

sextant (a measuring instrument for measuring the angular distance between celestial objects; resembles an octant)

 Context examples 

But when it came to almagest and astrolabe, the counting of figures and reckoning of epicycles, away would go her thoughts to horse and hound, and a vacant eye and listless face would warn the teacher that he had lost his hold upon his scholar.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)