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

See Examples For:

radio compass

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

The resulting position tallied with that indicated by the radio compass.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is also better for radio compass work.

From Time Magazine Archive

One of 16 B-29s on the way from California to Great Britain was having trouble with its radio compass.

From Time Magazine Archive

To catch a radiophone on wheels, Curlie had reasoned, one must mount his radio compass on wheels and pursue the offender.

From Curlie Carson Listens In by Snell, Roy J. (Roy Judson)