rhumb line
noun
: a line on the surface of the earth that follows a single compass bearing and makes equal oblique angles with all meridians
called also loxodrome
Examples of rhumb line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The earliest manuscript on view at the Newberry, a portolan chart by the Majorcan cartographer Petrus Roselli from 1456, is criss-crossed with rhumb lines meant to help a sailor navigate in a constant cardinal direction across the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
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Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
They are known for distinctive rhumb lines that radiate out from various points in the ocean in the direction of wind or compass points to help navigators plot their course.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
Other years, sailing the rhumb line directly to the finish, and thereby sailing fewer miles, works best.
—Michael Lawler, latimes.com, 24 Apr. 2018
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Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
They are known for distinctive rhumb lines that radiate out from various points in the ocean in the direction of wind or compass points to help navigators plot their course.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
Other years, sailing the rhumb line directly to the finish, and thereby sailing fewer miles, works best.
—Michael Lawler, latimes.com, 24 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Rhumb line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhumb%20line. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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