Definition

1. Noun:
   • The biological process of locating objects by emitting sounds and interpreting the echoes: A sensory system used by certain animals, such as bats and dolphins, to navigate and hunt in their environment by producing sounds and analyzing the returning echoes.
   • A technical method for determining position using reflected sound waves: The general principle of using emitted sound and its echo to calculate the distance to or location of an object.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Bats use echolocation to navigate in complete darkness.
  • The submarine's sonar system is based on the principle of echolocation.
  • Scientists study the sophisticated echolocation of toothed whales.

Advanced Usage

• "to use echolocation": to employ this biological or technical method for navigation or detection.
  • The blind person learned to use a form of human echolocation by making clicking sounds.
• "echolocation calls/signals": the specific sounds emitted for the purpose of echolocation.
  • Researchers recorded the high-frequency echolocation calls of the bat colony.

Variants and Related Words

• Echolocate (verb): To practice or utilize echolocation.
  • Dolphins can echolocate with incredible accuracy.
• Biosonar (noun): A synonym specifically for the biological form of echolocation used by animals.

Synonyms

• Sonar (noun): (Technical) Sound Navigation and Ranging; a device or method for detecting objects underwater using sound waves.
• Biosonar (noun): (Biological) The natural sonar system of animals.

Related Phrases

• Echolocation ability: The capacity to use echolocation.
  • The oil spill may have damaged the dolphins' echolocation ability.

Noun

1. determining the location of something by measuring the time it takes for an echo to return from it