radio detection and ranging

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"Radio detection and ranging," commonly known as "radar," is a noun that describes a technology used to find and locate objects that are far away, typically in the air or on the ground. It works by sending out radio waves (a type of electromagnetic wave) and then listening for the echoes that bounce back after hitting an object. By measuring how long it takes for the echoes to return, radar can determine the distance and speed of the object.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: Radar is often used in aviation, weather forecasting, and military applications.
• How to use in a sentence: "The airplane's radar helped the pilot avoid bad weather."

Example:

• "The radar detected a storm approaching the coast, allowing the meteorologists to warn the residents."

Advanced Usage:

In more technical contexts, radar can also refer to different systems: - Doppler Radar: Used to measure the speed of objects, like cars or weather systems, by observing the change in frequency of the returned signals. - Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): Used in satellite imaging to produce high-resolution images of the Earth's surface.

Word Variants:

• Radar (noun): The shorter form of "radio detection and ranging."
• Radaring (verb): Informally used to describe the action of using radar.

Different Meanings:

• In everyday language, "radar" can also mean to be aware of something. For example, "That issue is on my radar" means that the person is aware of the issue.

Synonyms:

• Sonar: Similar technology that uses sound waves to detect objects underwater.
• Lidar: A technology that uses light waves instead of radio waves to measure distances.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• On someone's radar: Means that someone is aware of something or someone.
  • Example: "The new project is on my radar, and I plan to start working on it soon."

Summary:

"Radio detection and ranging," or radar, is a valuable technology used to detect and locate distant objects by sending out radio waves and analyzing the echoes.

Academic

Noun

1. measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects

Synonyms

• radar
• microwave radar
• radiolocation