What is the real meaning behind Azimuth?

Astronomy, Navigation, the arc of the horizon from the celestial meridian to the foot of the great circle passing through the zenith, the nadir, and the point of the celestial sphere in question (in astronomy commonly reckoned from the south point of the horizon towards the west point; in navigation reckoned from the north point of the horizon towards the east point). (The Macquarie Concise Dictionary, 1998).