homing

[ hoh-ming ]

/ ˈhoʊ mɪŋ /

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Definition of homing

adjective

capable of returning home, usually over a great distance: We saw the homing birds at dusk.

guiding or directing homeward or to a destination, especially by mechanical means: the homing instinct; a homing beacon.

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Origin of homing

First recorded in 1860–65; home + -ing²

Words nearby homing

homiletic, homiletics, homiliary, homilist, homily, homing, homing device, homing guidance, homing pigeon, hominid, hominids

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use homing in a sentence

It’s akin to a spaceship with awful homing machinery that crashes into other planets and causes an unexpected wave of disaster.
New Virus-Like Particles Can Deliver CRISPR to Any Cell in the Body|Shelly Fan|January 18, 2022|Singularity Hub
Once absorbed, the cells readily translated mRNA into proteins—dotting the outside of T cells—that acted as homing beacons to find and destroy heart cells responsible for scarring.
Breakthrough Shot of Engineered Immune Cells Helps Heal Heart Damage|Shelly Fan|January 11, 2022|Singularity Hub
The game does a consistent job of homing in on small moments and recalling earlier details from the franchise and expanding upon them, adding a sense of heft and solidity to this fictional world.
‘Psychonauts 2’ is a Saturday morning cartoon with a side of mental health|Shannon Liao|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
Oh, and you can also play as the dodgeball, just hold down a button to “become the ball” and your teammate can toss you into an enemy like you’re a homing missile.
‘Knockout City’ promises affordable dodgeball fun, with many updates to come|Shannon Liao|May 21, 2021|Washington Post

Then the researchers will make sure the potential spider repellent is not toxic or a homing beacon for ants.
European fire ant chemicals may send spiders scurrying away|Erin Garcia de Jesús|May 18, 2021|Science News
In fact, Lew has a well-deserved reputation for homing in on the values that lurk behind the numbers.
Will Jack Lew Win the Future?|Megan McArdle|January 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Over the years, she has facilitated the transporting, homing, and re-homing of more than 250 dogs.
Back Home, Service Dogs Sleep in Beds—and Sniff the Sofa for Mines|Sandra McElwaine|September 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Like a homing device, it zipped over the net, into the corner of the court, and past the helpless Dabul to win the point.
Federer Breaks His Silence|Joshua Robinson|September 6, 2010|DAILY BEAST
At last he was forced to use the homing beam, and it guided him back across the deserted metropolis to the field.
Star Born|Andre Norton
And so to the unpeopled rooms of the little old Vermont farmhouse Peter's gentle thoughts ever swarmed, like homing bees.
Blazed Trail Stories|Stewart Edward White
It was a green and amber evening, with the shadows already deepening over Coombe Woods and the calling of homing rooks in the air.
In Accordance with the Evidence|Oliver Onions
Evening, with the sheep homing to the bedding-ground, brought reflections of a different hue.
The Flockmaster of Poison Creek|George W. Ogden
If ever a man had any "homing instinct" it would surely show itself on such an occasion as this.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson

British Dictionary definitions for homing

homing

/ (ˈhəʊmɪŋ) /

noun (modifier)

zoology relating to the ability to return home after travelling great distanceshoming instinct

(of an aircraft, a missile, etc) capable of guiding itself onto a target or to a specified point

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012