radar
noun
Simple meaning
Often preceded by a descriptive word: a natural or human-made detection method based on the analysis of reflected signals other than radio waves.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
raydahrSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɹeɪdɑɹ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
uncountableby extension
Often preceded by a descriptive word: a natural (for example, in an animal such as a bat) or human-made detection method based on the analysis of reflected signals other than radio waves, as light waves or sound waves; (countable) an instance of this.
uncountable
In full primary radar: a method of detecting a distant object and determining its position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysing radio waves (usually microwaves) which are sent towards the object and which reflect off its surfaces; also, the field of study of this method.
countable
Often preceded by a descriptive word: a system using one of the above detection methods, differentiated by configuration or platform, frequency, power, and other technical attributes.
countable
An installation of the apparatus for operating one of the above detection systems.
countablefigurative
A superior ability to detect something; an awareness, an intuition.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- General English
More ways to use radar
- “Air traffic control uses radar to track all planes flying nearby.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A device that, on receiving radar signals, transmits coded signals in response to help navigators determine their position.
A housing for a radar antenna.
An electronic signal that has been reflected back to the radar antenna.
Gunfire aimed a target that is being tracked by radar.
A radar echo displayed so as to show the position of a reflecting surface.
Radar that uses the Doppler shift to measure velocity.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: often preceded by a descriptive word
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.