1. a compass that uses a spinning gyroscope to find true north rather than magnetic north
Usage: nautical; aviation

Examples

• The ship’s gyrocompass provided accurate navigation even near the magnetic poles.
• Modern aircraft rely on gyrocompasses for precise directional guidance.
• The gyrocompass automatically corrects for the Earth’s rotation.
• Unlike a magnetic compass, a gyrocompass points to true north.
• The navigator checked the gyrocompass before plotting the course.
• Large vessels are required to carry both magnetic and gyrocompasses.