Coriolis acceleration

noun

Co·​ri·​o·​lis acceleration
(ˈ)kȯr-ē-¦ō-ləs-
: a quantity that must be added vectorially to the acceleration of a body with respect to another accelerated body to get the true acceleration of the former
Coriolis acceleration applies to the motion of a long-range projectile with respect to the rotating earth

Word History

Etymology

after Gaspard G. Coriolis †1843 French civil engineer

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Coriolis acceleration

Cite this Entry

“Coriolis acceleration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Coriolis%20acceleration. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!