radio compass

American  

noun

1. a radio receiver with a directional antenna for determining the bearing of the receiver from a radio transmitter.

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radio compass British  

noun

1. any navigational device that gives a bearing by determining the direction of incoming radio waves transmitted from a particular radio station or beacon See also goniometer

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Etymology

Origin of radio compass

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

But radio compass bearings were relatively new navigational aids at the time and not trusted by veteran mariners.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2019

That was to be his job, to pick up weather signals midair; to study the air tides, take the radio compass bearings.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is also better for radio compass work.

From Time Magazine Archive

Lana had scarcely soared out of sight of Guadalcanal when it was discovered that the near-misses at the field had knocked out her radio and radio compass.

From Time Magazine Archive

"When we reach the Thousand Islands, we will get busy with our loop aerial and find you by radio compass," he promised.

From The Radio Boys in the Thousand Islands by Duffield, J. W.