radar

American  

[rey-dahr] / ˈreɪ dɑr /

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.

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radar British  

/ 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

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radar Scientific  

/ rā′där /

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

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radar Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

Police use radar techniques to determine the speed of automobiles.

Other Word Forms

• antiradar noun

Etymology

Origin of radar

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

Compare meaning

How does radar compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sonar vs. radar

Example Sentences

After breaking through into the Wasps team, French selectors applied another three-letter moniker to Flament, describing him as a UFO, such was his sudden, unexpected appearance on their radar.

From BBC

“Isn’t it great? It kind of went under the radar. But if you know you know.”

From Los Angeles Times

An electronic warfare unit capable of disrupting enemy communications and radar will be set up in fiscal year 2026, which runs from April to March next year.

From BBC

Hopes to install wind turbines were also dashed "because they interfere with radar and border surveillance systems".

From Barron's

On February 19, a backup radar at the airport temporarily failed, after a similar problem in August, air traffic controllers said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• sonar