lidar

American  

[lahy-dahr] / ˈlaɪ dɑr /

Or LIDAR

noun

Electronics, Optics.

1. a device similar to radar in principle and operation but using infrared laser light instead of radio waves and capable of detecting particles, distant objects, and varying physical conditions in the atmosphere.

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lidar Scientific  

/ lī′där /

1. A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of pulsed laser light reflected from their surfaces. Lidar operates on the same principles as radar and sonar.

2. The equipment used in such detection.

3. See also Doppler effect radar sonar

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Etymology

Origin of lidar

1960–65; li(ght ¹ ) + (ra)dar

Example Sentences

They also analyze detailed lidar images that can penetrate dense forest cover and expose scarps left behind by ancient earthquakes.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

Of course, a lidar can identify an octagon and measure its distance.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Weyerhaeuser is creating a digital twin of its timberlands using satellite imagery, drone photography and lidar, which will tell the company the size, species and spacing of each tree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Rusch believes that Tesla will struggle to deliver autonomous driving at a level that regulators will accept without light detection and ranging — or lidar — technology, which Musk has criticized.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

There are many other important active sensor classes, three of which are active acoustics, lidar and magnetic anomaly detectors.

From Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance by Wade, James P.