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

He wasn’t consistently hitting 100 mph on the radar gun or dotting the strike zone with his typically pristine command.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The West’s missile detection in the Arctic currently relies on early warning systems at Pituffik and other radar sites across Alaska and northern Canada.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If I'm honest, body donation just wasn't on my radar and I had loads of questions running around in my head.

Read more on BBC

It will buy two new Arctic ships, maritime patrol planes, drones and early warning radar.

Read more on BBC

Singer Burns, one of the traitors, told viewers she planned to "lay low" and go "under the radar", and it seems to be working so far.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• sonar