[az.i.muth] n [ME, fr. (assumed) ML, fr. Ar as-sumut the azimuth, pl. of as-samt the way] (14c) 1: an arc of the horizon measured between a fixed point (as true north) and the vertical circle passing through the center of an object usu. in astronomy and navigation clockwise from the north point through 360 degrees
2: horizontal direction expressed as the angular distance between the direction of a fixed point (as the observer's heading) and the direction of the object -- az.i.muth.al adj -- az.i.muth.al.ly adv