\Az"i*muth\, n. [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar.
as-sum?t, pl. of as-samt a way, or perh., a point of the
horizon and a circle extending to it from the zenith, as
being the Arabic article: cf. It. azzimutto, Pg. azimuth, and
Ar. samt-al-r[=a]'s the vertex of the heaven. Cf. {Zenith}.]
(Astron. & Geodesy)
   (a) The quadrant of an azimuth circle.
   (b) An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian
       of the place and a vertical circle passing through the
       center of any object; as, the azimuth of a star; the
       azimuth or bearing of a line surveying.
Note: In trigonometrical surveying, it is customary to reckon
      the azimuth of a line from the south point of the
      horizon around by the west from 0[deg] to 360[deg].
{Azimuth circle}, or {Vertical circle}, one of the great
   circles of the sphere intersecting each other in the
   zenith and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles.
   --Hutton.
{Azimuth compass}, a compass resembling the mariner's
   compass, but having the card divided into degrees instead
   of rhumbs, and having vertical sights; used for taking the
   magnetic azimuth of a heavenly body, in order to find, by
   comparison with the true azimuth, the variation of the
   needle.
{Azimuth dial}, a dial whose stile or gnomon is at right
   angles to the plane of the horizon. --Hutton.
{Magnetic azimuth}, an arc of the horizon, intercepted
   between the vertical circle passing through any object and
   the magnetic meridian. This is found by observing the
   object with an azimuth compass.