(surveying) A level staff or graduated rod used by surveyors to measure differences in level, or to measure horizontal distances by sighting the stadia hairs (graduations) through a telescope.

plural of stadion

plural of stadium

(surveying) In a theodolite, etc., one of the horizontal crosshairs equidistant from the central horizontal crosshair.

plural of stadia hair

plural of stadial

(geology) Pertaining to a glacial stade. / (archaeology, sociology) Pertaining to or existing in successive stages of a given culture, society etc.

(geology) A short, colder period within an interglacial; a stade.

The theory that a society, culture, etc. passes through a series of developmental stages.

plural of stadialist