Can “semicircle” be used to refer to a part-circle that is not a exact half-circle?
Going through a specification sheet for an engineering device, I glanced upon this phrase:
...the angular scanning range of the device is a semicircle of 300 degrees...
A semicircle is usually defined as a proper half of a circle - in mathematical terms a circle of angle 180 degrees. Clearly 300 degrees is more than a half, it is closer to being 5/6th of a circle. Is it grammatically correct to refer to non-full circles as a "semicircle", even though they are not exactly a half-circle.
grammaticality mathematics
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
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Going through a specification sheet for an engineering device, I glanced upon this phrase:
...the angular scanning range of the device is a semicircle of 300 degrees...
A semicircle is usually defined as a proper half of a circle - in mathematical terms a circle of angle 180 degrees. Clearly 300 degrees is more than a half, it is closer to being 5/6th of a circle. Is it grammatically correct to refer to non-full circles as a "semicircle", even though they are not exactly a half-circle.
grammaticality mathematics
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
New contributor
Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
6
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
3
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Going through a specification sheet for an engineering device, I glanced upon this phrase:
...the angular scanning range of the device is a semicircle of 300 degrees...
A semicircle is usually defined as a proper half of a circle - in mathematical terms a circle of angle 180 degrees. Clearly 300 degrees is more than a half, it is closer to being 5/6th of a circle. Is it grammatically correct to refer to non-full circles as a "semicircle", even though they are not exactly a half-circle.
grammaticality mathematics
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
New contributor
Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Going through a specification sheet for an engineering device, I glanced upon this phrase:
...the angular scanning range of the device is a semicircle of 300 degrees...
A semicircle is usually defined as a proper half of a circle - in mathematical terms a circle of angle 180 degrees. Clearly 300 degrees is more than a half, it is closer to being 5/6th of a circle. Is it grammatically correct to refer to non-full circles as a "semicircle", even though they are not exactly a half-circle.
grammaticality mathematics
grammaticality mathematics
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
New contributor
Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
New contributor
Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
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Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
asked 7 hours ago
Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord
1161
1161
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Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
6
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
3
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago
add a comment |
6
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
3
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago
6
6
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
3
3
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In English, the prefix semi usually partly, as in semiconscious or semiautomatic.
But it can also mean half, as in semiannually, which always refers to something that happens every half-year (twice yearly).
The word semicircle has a specific defined meaning: a half of a circle or of its circumference. (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary)
So no, semicircle cannot be used to refer to any part of a circle that isn't 180 degrees.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
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Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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In English, the prefix semi usually partly, as in semiconscious or semiautomatic.
But it can also mean half, as in semiannually, which always refers to something that happens every half-year (twice yearly).
The word semicircle has a specific defined meaning: a half of a circle or of its circumference. (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary)
So no, semicircle cannot be used to refer to any part of a circle that isn't 180 degrees.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
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Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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In English, the prefix semi usually partly, as in semiconscious or semiautomatic.
But it can also mean half, as in semiannually, which always refers to something that happens every half-year (twice yearly).
The word semicircle has a specific defined meaning: a half of a circle or of its circumference. (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary)
So no, semicircle cannot be used to refer to any part of a circle that isn't 180 degrees.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
New contributor
Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
In English, the prefix semi usually partly, as in semiconscious or semiautomatic.
But it can also mean half, as in semiannually, which always refers to something that happens every half-year (twice yearly).
The word semicircle has a specific defined meaning: a half of a circle or of its circumference. (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary)
So no, semicircle cannot be used to refer to any part of a circle that isn't 180 degrees.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
New contributor
Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In English, the prefix semi usually partly, as in semiconscious or semiautomatic.
But it can also mean half, as in semiannually, which always refers to something that happens every half-year (twice yearly).
The word semicircle has a specific defined meaning: a half of a circle or of its circumference. (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary)
So no, semicircle cannot be used to refer to any part of a circle that isn't 180 degrees.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
New contributor
Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
1012
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Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
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answered 4 hours ago
Steven KleinSteven Klein
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1012
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Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
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6
I would say the word arc can be used: "an arc of 300 degrees," or perhaps: "the scanning range of the device is an angle of 300 degrees".
– Weather Vane
6 hours ago
3
No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.
– ubi hatt
6 hours ago
I presume it is clear from context that you are talking about geometric angle measure, not temperature. Thus, I would get rid of the "angular scanning range" as completely superfluous non-information. Instead, you may want to add actual information, like that it is scanning range in horizontal (or vertical) plane. Or is a sphere? Or half-sphere? Look at it from the point of view of a user of the device.
– Rusty Core
3 hours ago
It is 5/6 of a circle.
– user207421
3 hours ago