compass

Home > ... > Science and Technology > Technology > Technology: Terms and Concepts > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

compass

compass 1 In mathematics, an instrument for making circles and measuring distances. Frequently called a pair of compasses, it consists of two metal legs with one end of each attached to a pivot to form a V-shaped device. The free ends are pointed; a pen or pencil may be substituted for one of the points. 2 In navigation, an instrument for determining direction. The mariner's compass consists of a magnetic needle freely suspended so that in the earth's magnetic field it turns until aligned with the magnetic north and south poles. Declination is the angle between the magnetic needle and the geographical meridian. Use of the compass by the early Chinese is probably legendary. The first known reference in European literature dates from the 12th cent. Another more accurate form of navigational compass is the gyrocompass. It consists essentially of a rapidly spinning, electrically driven rotor, suspended in such a way that its axis automatically points along the geographical meridian. The gyrocompass is unaffected by magnetic influences. This compass came into wide use in warships and aircraft during the Second World War. See gyroscope .

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-compass" title="Facts and information about compass">compass</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"compass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"compass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-compass.html

"compass." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-compass.html

Learn more about citation styles

compass

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | Â© The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

compass, in present parlance the instrument by means of which a ship may be steered on a course and by means of which bearings may be taken to fix the ship's position on the chart. For the different types of maritime compasses see azimuth compass; gyroscopic compass; hand-bearing compass; magnetic compass. See also viking compass.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O225-compass" title="Facts and information about compass">compass</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"compass." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"compass." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-compass.html

"compass." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-compass.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Compass Bancshares Increases Dividend for 26th Consecutive Year. Business Wire; 2/21/2007
	Compass Bancshares to Be Acquired by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. Business Wire; 2/16/2007
	Compass to acquire $310 million Florida Bank. Business Wire; 11/27/1995

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Aircraft compass swing.(Airframe Technology)(Cover Story) Magazine article from: Aircraft Maintenance Technology; 11/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; Compass swing--those two words bring images of a time-consuming...running, air conditioner off so it doesn't disrupt the magnetic compass, as you taxi all around the compass rose, relying on your co-worker's accuracy in lining the...
	Compass Bancshares Increases Dividend for 26th Consecutive Year. Business Wire; 2/21/2007; 700+ words ; ...Ala. -- The board of directors of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSS...represents the 26th consecutive year that Compass has increased its dividend to shareholders. Over the past 10 years, Compass earnings per share and annual dividend...
	Compass Binoculars: Here's a firsthand look at binoculars that are designed to point the way.(Features/Tested)(Excerpt; Review) Magazine article from: Motorboating; 5/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...landmark or marina entrance. Many compass binoculars also include a graduated...finding. There are a number of compass binoculars on the market...ashore, assessing the optics, compass and ergonomics of each pair...the models with illuminated compasses, looking out over the water...
	Compass Bancshares to Be Acquired by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. Business Wire; 2/16/2007; 700+ words ; ...Transaction Provides Compelling Value for Compass Shareholders Combination Creates a Full...Growth Sunbelt BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Compass Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSS) today...MAD: BBVA) ("BBVA") will acquire Compass for a combination of cash and stock...
	Compass curios. Magazine article from: Word Ways; 8/1/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...several dictionaries, I found "boxed compasses" only where COMPASS occupied the first or fourth column...remain. These include better 9-length compass roses, and also boxed compasses where COMPASS occupies columns other than the first...
	Compass Bancshares Continues Sunbelt Expansion Drive With Agreement to Acquire New Mexico Bank. Business Wire; 7/26/1999; 700+ words ; ...states of Texas and Arizona, Sunbelt-based Compass Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSS) today announced...million in deposits and $34 million in equity to Compass. Under terms of the agreement, Compass will exchange shares of its common stock for...
	Compass Sees Texas as Land of Opportunity. Magazine article from: American Banker; 4/27/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...history in its home state of Alabama, Compass Bancshares is bent on building a future...For a decade $14.5 billion-asset Compass has been quietly amassing a string of...completing 12 Texas acquisitions since 1996, Compass has pushed its assets in the state to...
	Compass Bank Introduces New Brand - BBVA Compass. PR Newswire; 11/6/2008; 700+ words ; ...Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Compass Bank today announced that it is launching its new brand, BBVA Compass, across its six-state "legacy" footprint...of 2009. The new brand is a result of Compass' year-long efforts to combine four...
	Compasses. Magazine article from: Yachting; 7/1/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...replaced the magnetic card compass. Like everything else in the world, these compasses aren't perfect. Two...problem is to modify the compass readings, or compensate...differences. Almost all compasses have internal compensator...be placed around the compass in such a way that they...
	Compass to acquire $310 million Florida Bank. Business Wire; 11/27/1995; 700+ words ; ...number of locations in attractive markets, Compass Bancshares, Inc. today announced that...its subsidiary, Community First Bank. Compass would exchange approximately $43 million...options of CFB Bancorp. The acquisition is Compass' largest in Florida to date, and will...