Universal Time

Universal Time

English

Proper noun

Universal Time

1. A measure of time that conforms, within a close approximation, to the mean diurnal rotation of the Earth and serves as the basis of civil timekeeping.

Usage notes

Universal Time (UT1) is determined from observations of the stars, radio sources, and also from ranging observations of the moon and artificial Earth satellites. The scale determined directly from such observations is designated Universal Time Observed (UTO); it is slightly dependent on the place of observation. When UTO is corrected for the shift in longitude of the observing station caused by polar motion, the time scale UT1 is obtained. When an accuracy better than one second is not required, Universal Time can be used to mean Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).[1]

Translations

measure of time

Chinese: Mandarin: 世界時／世界时 (zh) (shìjièshí) Finnish: yleisaika (fi) Georgian: უნივერსალური დრო (universaluri dro) Spanish: please add this translation if you can

See also

• Greenwich Mean Time
• UTC
• Zulu time

References

1. Joint Publication 1-02 U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms; 12 April 2001 (As Amended Through 14 April 2006)