Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

sonde

American  
[sond] / sɒnd /

noun

Rocketry.
  1. a rocket, balloon, or rockoon used as a probe for observing phenomena in the atmosphere.


sonde British  
/ sɒnd /

noun

  1. a rocket, balloon, or probe used for observing in the upper atmosphere

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sonde

1920–25; < French: plumb line; see sound 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You can watch how hard your muscles are working on the screen and even play little video games using the sonde as a joystick.

From Slate • Feb. 15, 2012

It is directly compatible with the Raytheon Anschutz digital gyro and magnetic field sonde.

From Time Magazine Archive

And it was at this period that the expedient of the ballon sonde, or unmanned balloon, was happily thought of.

From The Dominion of the Air; the story of aerial navigation by Bacon, John Mackenzie

"Dame Paciencë sitting there I fonde, With facë pale, upon an hill of sonde."

From On the Old Road Vol. 1 (of 2) A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays and Articles on Art and Literature by Ruskin, John

Kepe then the see, that is the walle of England, And then is England kepte by Goddes sonde.

From Political and Literary essays, 1908-1913 by Baring, Evelyn