Meaning & use
Ptolemaic model
The ancient astronomical theory placing Earth motionless at the center of the universe, with the sun and planets orbiting it.
See it in a sentence
Astronomers followed the Ptolemaic model for over a thousand years before Copernicus challenged it.
The Ptolemaic model used complex circles called epicycles to explain the odd paths of planets.
A note on using this word
Named after the astronomer Ptolemy, this model was eventually replaced by the heliocentric model, which places the sun at the center.
Words with a similar meaning
geocentric model
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
heliocentric model
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