southing

southing

The ship's southing was plotted on the navigational chart.

Definition

Noun: 1. Navigation (nautical): "southing" refers to the act of moving or steering toward the south, or the distance traveled in a southerly direction. - Example: The ship made steady southing during the night. (The vessel progressed southward.) 2. Astronomy: "southing" denotes the passage of a celestial body (such as the Sun or a star) across the meridian in the southern part of the sky, or the moment when it reaches its highest point in the south. - Example: The moon's southing occurred just after midnight. (The moon crossed the southern meridian.)

Usage Examples
  • Nautical:
    • The captain recorded the vessel's southing in the logbook. (The ship's southerly progress was documented.)
    • After days of calm, the crew finally achieved a good southing. (The ship moved significantly southward.)
  • Astronomical:
    • The astronomer calculated the southing of the star for the observation. (The moment the star crossed the southern meridian was determined.)
    • Solar southing varies with the seasons. (The Sun's passage across the southern meridian changes throughout the year.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to make southing": a nautical phrase meaning to gain distance toward the south.
    • The crew worked hard to make southing before the storm. (They strove to move southward quickly.)
  • "at southing": in astronomy, indicating that a celestial body is at its southern meridian crossing.
    • The planet Jupiter was at southing at 3 a.m. (Jupiter was crossing the southern meridian at that hour.)
Variants and Related Words
  • South (n, adj, adv): the direction opposite north; toward the south.
    • They sailed south for warmer waters. (Toward the southern direction.)
  • Southerly (adj, adv): from or toward the south.
    • A southerly wind brought warm air. (A wind blowing from the south.)
  • Southward (adv, adj): toward the south.
    • The migration was southward. (Moving in a southerly direction.)
Synonyms
  • Southerly progress: movement toward the south.
  • Meridian transit: the astronomical crossing of a meridian (for the astronomy sense).
Phrasal Verbs
  • South out: to gradually move or steer toward the south.
    • The ship slowly southed out of the bay. (It moved southward out of the bay.)
  • South away: to sail or travel away toward the south.
    • The explorers southed away from the coast. (They departed in a southerly direction.)
Related Idioms
  • "find one's southing": to locate or achieve a southerly direction or position.
    • After the fog cleared, the navigator found his southing. (He determined the way south.)
  • "lose southing": to fail to maintain a southerly course.
    • The strong current caused the ship to lose southing. (The ship drifted from its southerly path.)