Great circle

Japanese: 大円 - だいえん

〘noun〙① A large circle. ② In mathematics, the circle that appears at the cut edge when a sphere is cut with a plane that passes through its center. It is called this because it is the largest circle that can be obtained by cutting a sphere with a plane. ⇔ Small circle. [English-Japanese Dictionary of Mathematical Dictionary (1889)] ③ Refers to the heavens. ※Nigen Benmonsho (1682) 5 "Heaven Great circle (tai-en) <abbreviation> Great circle is called large and round. Circle cover is called hollow and covering. Both refer to the shape of the heavens."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 大きな円形。② 数学で、球面を、その中心を通る平面で切ったとき、切り口に現われる円。球面を平面で切ってえられる円の中でもっとも大きいものであるところからいう。⇔小円。〔数学ニ用ヰル辞ノ英和対訳字書（1889）〕③ 天のこと。※邇言便蒙抄（1682）五「天大円(タイヱン)〈略〉大円は大にして円也(まとかなり)とよむ。円覆はまどかにしておほふ也。いづれも天の形を云也」

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