Definition

Noun: A navigational compass that finds true north by using a fast-spinning gyroscope and the forces of the Earth's rotation, rather than relying on the Earth's magnetic field.

Usage

A gyrocompass is used for navigation, especially on ships and aircraft, where it provides a stable and accurate directional reference that is unaffected by magnetic interference. * The ship's navigation system relied on a highly accurate gyrocompass. * Unlike a magnetic compass, a gyrocompass points to true geographic north.

Advanced Usage

• Gyrocompassing: The process by which a gyroscope is aligned to true north. This term describes the function of the device itself.
  • The system performed gyrocompassing to establish its initial orientation.

Variants and Related Words

• Gyroscope (n): A device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted to spin rapidly about an axis, which maintains its orientation regardless of any movement of its base. This is the core component of a gyrocompass.
• Gyro (n): A common informal shortening for both "gyroscope" and "gyrocompass" in technical contexts.

Synonyms

• Non-magnetic compass

Antonyms

• Magnetic compass

Noun

1. a compass that does not depend on magnetism but uses a gyroscope instead