SONAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sonar mean? 

• SONAR (noun)
  The noun SONAR has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: SONAR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SONAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

asdic; echo sounder; sonar

Context example:

asdic is an acronym for antisubmarine detection investigation committee

Hypernyms ("sonar" is a kind of...):

measuring device; measuring instrument; measuring system (instrument that shows the extent or amount or quantity or degree of something)

navigational instrument (an instrument used for navigating)

Meronyms (parts of "sonar"):

pinger (a pulse generator used for echo sounding in sonar)

pulse generator (a generator of single or multiple voltage pulses; usually adjustable for pulse rate)

Holonyms ("sonar" is a part of...):

pigboat; sub; submarine; U-boat (a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes)

 Context examples 

To obtain comprehensive geomorphic, sedimentological, biological and dating information, scientists deployed underwater sonar to map the sea floor and extracted fossil reef cores at 16 locations.

(Major study reveals Great Barrier Reef’s 30,000-year fight for survival, University of Granada)

Lost 52 sailed to the alternative probable location and deployed underwater drones to search the ocean floor using sonar.

(Lost 52 Project announces discovery of wrecked sub near Okinawa, Wikinews)