Can “semicircle” be used to refer to a part-circle that is not a exact half-circle?












4















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.










share|improve this question







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.
















  • 9





    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
    yesterday






  • 4





    No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

    – ubi hatt
    yesterday











  • 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
    yesterday






  • 3





    It is 5/6 of a circle.

    – user207421
    23 hours ago











  • @WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

    – Kris
    12 hours ago
















4















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.










share|improve this question







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.
















  • 9





    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
    yesterday






  • 4





    No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

    – ubi hatt
    yesterday











  • 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
    yesterday






  • 3





    It is 5/6 of a circle.

    – user207421
    23 hours ago











  • @WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

    – Kris
    12 hours ago














4












4








4








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.










share|improve this question







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






share|improve this question







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.











share|improve this question







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.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question






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 yesterday









Transistor OverlordTransistor Overlord

1241




1241




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.





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.






Transistor Overlord is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 9





    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
    yesterday






  • 4





    No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

    – ubi hatt
    yesterday











  • 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
    yesterday






  • 3





    It is 5/6 of a circle.

    – user207421
    23 hours ago











  • @WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

    – Kris
    12 hours ago














  • 9





    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
    yesterday






  • 4





    No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

    – ubi hatt
    yesterday











  • 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
    yesterday






  • 3





    It is 5/6 of a circle.

    – user207421
    23 hours ago











  • @WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

    – Kris
    12 hours ago








9




9





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
yesterday





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
yesterday




4




4





No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

– ubi hatt
yesterday





No, you can't use it. A semi-circle means half of a circle.

– ubi hatt
yesterday













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
yesterday





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
yesterday




3




3





It is 5/6 of a circle.

– user207421
23 hours ago





It is 5/6 of a circle.

– user207421
23 hours ago













@WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

– Kris
12 hours ago





@WeatherVane The word should needs to be used in "... the word arc can be used," not can. Arc it is, after all.

– Kris
12 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















15














In English, the prefix semi- usually means 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.






share|improve this answer










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.





















  • This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

    – Clonkex
    18 hours ago








  • 1





    Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

    – mcalex
    15 hours ago











  • @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

    – RonJohn
    13 hours ago











  • Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

    – Kris
    12 hours ago



















2














The answer by Steven is correct, you cannot use semicircle in this case.
Here are some alternatives I would use:




the angular scanning range of the device is an arc of 300 degrees...




Or if we want to give a sense of an area being scanned:




the angular scanning range of the device is a circular sector of 300 degrees...




Here's the definition of circular sector



Or simply:




the angular scanning range of the device is 300 degrees...




I think this is the most technically accurate one. The angular range should be described as an angle, hence measured in degrees (or rads).






share|improve this answer








New contributor




Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




























    0














    I would use "a 300-degree segment of a circle".






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.




















      Your Answer








      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "97"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: false,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: null,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });






      Transistor Overlord is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f489545%2fcan-semicircle-be-used-to-refer-to-a-part-circle-that-is-not-a-exact-half-circ%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      15














      In English, the prefix semi- usually means 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.






      share|improve this answer










      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.





















      • This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

        – Clonkex
        18 hours ago








      • 1





        Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

        – mcalex
        15 hours ago











      • @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

        – RonJohn
        13 hours ago











      • Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

        – Kris
        12 hours ago
















      15














      In English, the prefix semi- usually means 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.






      share|improve this answer










      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.





















      • This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

        – Clonkex
        18 hours ago








      • 1





        Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

        – mcalex
        15 hours ago











      • @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

        – RonJohn
        13 hours ago











      • Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

        – Kris
        12 hours ago














      15












      15








      15







      In English, the prefix semi- usually means 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.






      share|improve this answer










      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 means 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.







      share|improve this answer










      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.









      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 12 hours ago









      ubi hatt

      2,524420




      2,524420






      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 yesterday









      Steven KleinSteven Klein

      1592




      1592




      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.





      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.






      Steven Klein is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.













      • This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

        – Clonkex
        18 hours ago








      • 1





        Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

        – mcalex
        15 hours ago











      • @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

        – RonJohn
        13 hours ago











      • Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

        – Kris
        12 hours ago



















      • This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

        – Clonkex
        18 hours ago








      • 1





        Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

        – mcalex
        15 hours ago











      • @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

        – RonJohn
        13 hours ago











      • Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

        – Kris
        12 hours ago

















      This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

      – Clonkex
      18 hours ago







      This might be an unusual opinion, but when I hear "semiannually" I think "probably once every 2 years, but inconsistently so". I'm Australian, in case that's relevant.

      – Clonkex
      18 hours ago






      1




      1





      Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

      – mcalex
      15 hours ago





      Biannual is the term for something that happens every six months. Not to be confused with biennial which is something that happens every two years.

      – mcalex
      15 hours ago













      @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

      – RonJohn
      13 hours ago





      @Clonkex "semi-" means half, and "bi-" (as in bicycle, which is how I remember the difference) means two.

      – RonJohn
      13 hours ago













      Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

      – Kris
      12 hours ago





      Please read the FAQ. Good Luck.

      – Kris
      12 hours ago













      2














      The answer by Steven is correct, you cannot use semicircle in this case.
      Here are some alternatives I would use:




      the angular scanning range of the device is an arc of 300 degrees...




      Or if we want to give a sense of an area being scanned:




      the angular scanning range of the device is a circular sector of 300 degrees...




      Here's the definition of circular sector



      Or simply:




      the angular scanning range of the device is 300 degrees...




      I think this is the most technically accurate one. The angular range should be described as an angle, hence measured in degrees (or rads).






      share|improve this answer








      New contributor




      Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.

























        2














        The answer by Steven is correct, you cannot use semicircle in this case.
        Here are some alternatives I would use:




        the angular scanning range of the device is an arc of 300 degrees...




        Or if we want to give a sense of an area being scanned:




        the angular scanning range of the device is a circular sector of 300 degrees...




        Here's the definition of circular sector



        Or simply:




        the angular scanning range of the device is 300 degrees...




        I think this is the most technically accurate one. The angular range should be described as an angle, hence measured in degrees (or rads).






        share|improve this answer








        New contributor




        Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.























          2












          2








          2







          The answer by Steven is correct, you cannot use semicircle in this case.
          Here are some alternatives I would use:




          the angular scanning range of the device is an arc of 300 degrees...




          Or if we want to give a sense of an area being scanned:




          the angular scanning range of the device is a circular sector of 300 degrees...




          Here's the definition of circular sector



          Or simply:




          the angular scanning range of the device is 300 degrees...




          I think this is the most technically accurate one. The angular range should be described as an angle, hence measured in degrees (or rads).






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.










          The answer by Steven is correct, you cannot use semicircle in this case.
          Here are some alternatives I would use:




          the angular scanning range of the device is an arc of 300 degrees...




          Or if we want to give a sense of an area being scanned:




          the angular scanning range of the device is a circular sector of 300 degrees...




          Here's the definition of circular sector



          Or simply:




          the angular scanning range of the device is 300 degrees...




          I think this is the most technically accurate one. The angular range should be described as an angle, hence measured in degrees (or rads).







          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer






          New contributor




          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          answered 17 hours ago









          ThanassisThanassis

          1213




          1213




          New contributor




          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





          New contributor





          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          Thanassis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.























              0














              I would use "a 300-degree segment of a circle".






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                0














                I would use "a 300-degree segment of a circle".






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  I would use "a 300-degree segment of a circle".






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.










                  I would use "a 300-degree segment of a circle".







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






                  New contributor




                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 14 hours ago









                  Henry PersimmonHenry Persimmon

                  1




                  1




                  New contributor




                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  Henry Persimmon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                      Transistor Overlord is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










                      draft saved

                      draft discarded


















                      Transistor Overlord is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                      Transistor Overlord is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                      Transistor Overlord is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















                      Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f489545%2fcan-semicircle-be-used-to-refer-to-a-part-circle-that-is-not-a-exact-half-circ%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Plaza Victoria

                      Brian Clough

                      Cáceres