triangulating

Triangulation is a geometric method of locating a point by first determining two angles on a fixed baseline. It is used in times of war to locate hidden radio transmitters, ships on the high seas or aiming an artillery piece.

In business, it is used in a different way—CEOs, for example, triangulate on employees or other sources of information to be sure that they are getting accurate information which is mission critical to any enterprise’s longevity and sustainability. CEOs know that direct reports often tell them what they think the CEO wants to hear instead of the unvarnished truth. That is a reason why many CEOs like to speak directly to customers and suppliers—they disintermediate everyone else.

“Tom Sanders (played by Michael Douglas in the 1994 film, Disclosure) is a manager at tech company, Digicom. He is told by ambitious executive Meredith Johnson (played by Demi Moore) that the drives they are working on are failing at an unacceptable rate due to Tom’s negligence (in software design). Only by triangulating on Meredith (by checking with two independent sources) does Tom discover the truth and save his career—that Meredith had authorized a cheaper solution (they are using a lower level clean room) which is actually causing tiny specs of dirt to foul operation of their new drives.”

by Prof Bruce February 21, 2010

urine triangulation

the night time practice of locating the acceptable piss receptacle by listening to the sounds of urine hitting unacceptable objects like carpet, toilet paper rolls, or cats.

Haans easily got 15-20% of his piss in the toilet by using simple urine triangulation.

by scottoff August 20, 2007

Triangulation Tribe

When women you've messed around with while you had a girlfriend find out about each other, compare notes, and become friends.

He used the excuse that it wasn't "technically" cheating because they only went to "third base," but when the girls compared notes, they realized they'd all fallen for his BS and formed a triangulation tribe.

by HealthyMomNextDoor May 23, 2017

Musical Triangulation

The process of describing an artist to a non-listener by comparing the artist to three or more other artists. Usually done with three artists, two of which are similar to each other and the third of which is significantly different, and in the style of: "They are like (similar band #1) mixed with (similar band #2) with elements of (totally different band)"

Speaker 1: You haven't heard Sage Francis? He's like Swollen Members mixed with Sweatshop Union, with elements of Paul Simon.

Speaker 2: Dude, that's an awesome musical triangulation.

by Keramac October 8, 2009

Racial Triangulation

Racial triangulation as a divide-and-conquer tactic often involves blaming one community of color for another’s problems, bribing one with resources in exchange for their participation in oppressing another, and creating narratives that cultivate mistrust between them.

Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah

An example of Racial Triangulation is when legislators created the narrative that Affirmative Action is harmful towards the Asian community in order to justify divesting it, when in reality, it actually helps all communities of color.

by Racial Wellness September 18, 2023

triangulation

The are of non-penatrative sex.

So you didn't have sex with him, but did you partake in triangulation?

by mynameispete January 2, 2007

triangulation

The unacheivable necessary step to receiving promotion.

We are sorry Dennis there is no promotion for you this year, we expect you to understand as you have no prior triangulation. Now please bend over and continue to do the job of your inept co-worker Jabba.

by Villagewolf March 5, 2008