gyrocompass

noun gy·ro·com·pass \ ˈjī-rō-ˌkəm-pəs also -ˌkäm- \

Definition of gyrocompass

: a compass consisting of a continuously driven gyroscope whose spinning axis is confined to a horizontal plane so that the earth's rotation causes it to assume a position parallel to the earth's axis and thus point to the true north

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Recent Examples of gyrocompass from the Web

The first of these is the EM3000 multi-beam sonar — a portable hydrographic mapping system consisting of a transducer, motion sensor, gyrocompass, and navigation system.

— louise knapp, WIRED, "No Loch for Nessie Search?," 27 Feb. 2001

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gyrocompass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.