noun
- a compass that uses a spinning gyroscope to find true north rather than magnetic north
Usage: nautical; aviation
Examples
- The ship’s gyrocompass provided accurate navigation even near the magnetic poles.
- Modern aircraft rely on gyrocompasses for precise directional guidance.
- The gyrocompass automatically corrects for the Earth’s rotation.
- Unlike a magnetic compass, a gyrocompass points to true north.
- The navigator checked the gyrocompass before plotting the course.
- Large vessels are required to carry both magnetic and gyrocompasses.