hydrophone

[ hahy-druh-fohn ]

noun

1. a device for locating sources of sound under water, as for detecting submarines by the noise of their engines.
2. an instrument employing the principles of the microphone, used to detect the flow of water through a pipe.
3. Medicine/Medical. an instrument used in auscultation, whereby sounds are intensified through a column of water.

hydrophone

/ ˈhaɪdrəˌfəʊn /

noun

1. an electroacoustic transducer that converts sound or ultrasonic waves travelling through water into electrical oscillations

hydrophone

/ hī′drə-fōn′ /

1. A device used to detect or monitor sound under water. Hydrophones are often installed or towed in arrays that can be used to pinpoint a sound source or provide sea-floor imaging as part of a sonar system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrophone¹

First recorded in 1855–60; hydro- ¹ + -phone

Example Sentences

About a decade ago, hydrophones ran on tape reels and had to be attached to a cable that hung off the side of a boat, where a non-waterproof recording station was housed.

From Popular-Science

That’s because hydrophones can distinguish two or three unique songs, but anything more starts to become indiscernible.

From Popular-Science

During the summer, the songs picked up by the hydrophone took place mostly at night.

From Popular-Science

The exasperated "C 6" pursued by hydrophone for another quarter of an hour, but the sound of the enemy's motors was then lost.

From Project Gutenberg

The Adriatic Sea was an ideal place for the use of the hydrophone.

From Project Gutenberg

The development of the hydrophone for anti-submarine work, both from ships and from shore stations.

From Project Gutenberg

This station produced the Mark II directional hydrophone of which large numbers were ordered in 1917 for use in patrol craft.

From Project Gutenberg

The alliance between the hydrophone and the depth charge is a natural one.

From Project Gutenberg