An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

The study and measurement of the shape, size, and curvature of the Earth.

From Fr. géodésie, from Gk. geodaisia, from → geo- + dai(ein) "to divide" + -sia, variant of -ia a noun suffix.

Zamin-sanji, from zamin, → geo-, + sanji, from sanjidan "to measure; to compare," from Mid.Pers. sanjidan "to weigh," from present tense stem sanj-, Av. θanj- "to draw, pull;" Proto-Iranian *θanj-. Other terms from this base in Pers.: lanjidan "to pull up," hanjidan, âhanjidan "to draw out," farhang "education, culture."

A type of Earth observing satellite used to measure the location of points on Earth's surface with great accuracy. Their observations help determine the exact size and shape of Earth, act as references for mapping, and track movements of Earth's crust.

→ geodesy; → satellite