sonar — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Artificial echolocation by use of electronic equipment, with hydrophones to locate objects underwater, using the same wave-analysis principles that radar uses.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

   Synonyms

   ASDIC

   Broader terms

   imaging

   Examples

   They were able to detect the sunken wreck using sonar.

2. A device that provides such echolocation.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Broader terms

   device

   Examples

   They finally bought a new sonar to replace the 40-year-old unit that sometimes didn't work right.

3. Any echolocation.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Submarines and bats both use sonar to navigate.

Noun

1. a measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to return

   Synonyms

   echo sounderasdic

   Broader terms

   measuring instrumentmeasuring systemmeasuring devicenavigational instrument

   Examples

   sonar is an acronym for sound navigation ranging

   asdic is an acronym for antisubmarine detection investigation committee