geodesic line

9.9

The shortest path between two points on a curved surface like a globe

noun
/ˌdʒiːəˈdɛsɪk laɪn/

Specialized

: línea geodésica

On a sphere, the shortest route between two cities is a geodesic line, not a straight line on a map.

Examples

The crew plotted their course using a geodesic line to minimize travel distance over the Earth's surface.
General relativity predicts that light follows a geodesic line in curved spacetime.
The shortest distance between two points is a geodesic line.
Many architects use geodesic lines in their designs.
On a sphere, the shortest route between two cities is a geodesic line, not a straight line on a map.
The crew plotted their course using a geodesic line to minimize travel distance over the Earth's surface.
General relativity predicts that light follows a geodesic line in curved spacetime.

Synonyms

geodesic

vsgeodesic line

Specialized

1 9.2

The shortest path between two points on a curved surface like the Earth

applies to any mathematically defined surface including flat planes and curved ones

Surface Forms

geodesic line singular

geodesic lines plural

Morphology

geodesic + line

The adjective 'geodesic' denotes the property 'relating to shortest routes on curved surfaces', so a learner who knows both words can compositionally infer 'a line that is the shortest path on a surface'. This is a straightforward adjective+noun combination and mirrors equivalent constructions in other languages, making the meaning predictable despite its technical register.

Etymology

Geodesic line comes from the image of a tight string pulled between two points on a curved surface: the string follows the shortest route. That's why geodesic line means the 'shortest path' between two points on a surface, for example the arc pilots use on a globe.