sonde

American  

[sond] / sɒnd /

noun

Rocketry.

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

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sonde British  

/ sɒnd /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of sonde

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

Example Sentences

The sonde, a tube of instruments about the size of a model rocket, was sucked out into the frigid air and began plummeting toward the clouds, where it would investigate the storm’s innards and transmit its findings to the world.

From New York Times

This week, aboard a Gulfstream IV jet that was streaking toward Alaska as a giant storm seethed miles below, an engineer gave a quick countdown: “Sonde’s out in 5, 4, 3, 2 …”

From New York Times

But the first to see it are the onboard meteorologists, whose screens dance with colorful squiggles representing wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity — each sonde’s proof of life during its unimaginably chaotic 15-minute dive toward the sea.

From New York Times

Food aide Kari Sonde likes to set a small pot lid over the sandwich in the skillet.

From Washington Post

“Cardamom commonly appears in South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African dishes, as well as in sweet Scandinavian treats,” my colleague Kari Sonde wrote.

From Washington Post