triangulate

1 of 2

verb

tri·​an·​gu·​late trī-ˈaŋ-gyə-ˌlāt 

triangulated; triangulating

transitive verb

1

: to survey, map, or determine by triangulation

2

a

: to divide into triangles

b

: to give triangular form to

triangulate

2 of 2

adjective

tri·​an·​gu·​late trī-ˈaŋ-gyə-lət 

: consisting of or marked with triangles

Examples of triangulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Cadet Benjamin Brooks learned how to use direction-finding equipment to triangulate the box’s position. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2024

To make this possible, a growing list of companies is launching even more satellites into orbit and developing new methods of triangulating signals called beamforming. —Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Adjective

Astronomers suspected some of these signals are likely caused by flares streaming off magnetars many billions of light-years away, but the telescopes can't quite triangulate where the signals are coming from. —Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 21 Jan. 2021

In the past, ecologists would take radio receivers into the field to painstakingly triangulate tigers’ locations once or twice a day in natural landscapes. —Neil Carter, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin triangulatus, past participle of triangulare to make triangles, from Latin triangulum

First Known Use

Verb

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above