radar

[rey-dahr]

noun

1. Electronics.,  a device for determining the presence and location of an object by measuring the time for the echo of a radio wave to return from it and the direction from which it returns.

2. a means or sense of awareness or perception.

   lobbyists working under the media's radar.

radar

/ ˈreɪdɑː /

noun

1. Former name: radiolocation. a method for detecting the position and velocity of a distant object, such as an aircraft A narrow beam of extremely high-frequency radio pulses is transmitted and reflected by the object back to the transmitter, the signal being displayed on a radarscope. The direction of the reflected beam and the time between transmission and reception of a pulse determine the position of the object

2. the equipment used in such detection

radar

1. A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, speed, material composition, or other characteristics by causing radio waves to be reflected from them and analyzing the reflected waves. The waves can be converted into images, as for use on weather maps.

2. The equipment used in such detecting.

3. See also Doppler effect lidar sonar

radar

1. A method of finding the position and velocity of an object by bouncing a radio wave off it and analyzing the reflected wave. Radar is an acronym for ra dio d etection a nd r anging.

Police use radar techniques to determine the speed of automobiles.

Other Word Forms

• antiradar noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of radar¹

1940–45, ra(dio) d(etecting) a(nd) r(anging)

Word History and Origins

Origin of radar¹

C20 ra ( dio ) d ( etecting ) a ( nd ) r ( anging )

Example Sentences

Pakistan's armed forces heavily used China-made equipment, including fighter jets and radar systems.

From BBC

Mr McFarlane said BNWAS, radar systems and other safety mechanisms, such as the Automatic Identification System, were fitted with "a number of alarms" designed to alert crew to an impending collision.

From BBC

Now more data from satellites and radar can be fed more quickly into more sophisticated models to produce a more detailed forecast.

From BBC

Welsh wine "wasn't on our radar" said Julian, another member of the group, adding "it very much will be now".

From BBC

She has been on the department’s radar since 2022, according to wildlife officials.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sonar