noun

sonar

SOH-nah

noun

A method of locating objects underwater by sending out sound waves and reading the echoes that bounce back.

"The submarine used sonar to detect the reef ahead."

"Fishing boats use sonar to find shoals of fish."

The equipment that produces and reads this kind of underwater echo signal.

"The sonar on the old destroyer had been upgraded twice."

How to Use Sonar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA way of "seeing" underwater by listening for sound echoes bouncing off objects.

Common pairings

use sonar sonar equipment active sonar passive sonar

sonars plural

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The submarine used _____ to detect the reef ahead.

A blend formed from "sound navigation and ranging" — coined the same way as its cousin "radar" (radio detection and ranging).