compass deflection

noun — 2 senses

compass deflection

noun
1

The difference, expressed in degrees, between the direction a magnetic compass needle points and true or astronomical north; magnetic declination.

2

Differences, expressed in degrees, between magnetic north directions and the direction a magnetic compass points, owing to local magnetic interferences; magnetic deviation.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.