sonar — a system for detecting objects underwater using sound waves
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a system for detecting objects underwater using sound waves
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsoʊnɑːr/
Example Sentences
- The dolphin trainer was amazed that dolphins have natural sonar abilities that put human technology to shame.
- My fishing boat's sonar showed a huge school of fish, but they turned out to be just my neighbor's lost golf balls.
- Modern sonar technology has revolutionized underwater exploration and marine biology research.
sonar
NOUN[/ˈsoʊnɑːr/]
a system for detecting objects underwater using sound waves

The submarine's sonar pings reveal a giant shipwreck hidden in the deep ocean.

Sonar and radar guide, while guitar sounds collide!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Sonar is a military acronym created by the United States Navy during World War II. It stands for 'Sound Navigation And Ranging' and was formed by taking the initial letters of each word, similar to the construction of radar. The technology uses sound waves to detect and locate objects underwater.
Breakdown
SO (Sound) + NA (Navigation) + R (Ranging). The acronym combines the first syllables or letters of each component word to create a single technical term, following the same acronym-building pattern as radar.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The dolphin trainer was amazed that dolphins have natural sonar abilities that put human technology to shame.”
“My fishing boat's sonar showed a huge school of fish, but they turned out to be just my neighbor's lost golf balls.”
“Modern sonar technology has revolutionized underwater exploration and marine biology research.”
“The treasure hunter's sonar detected what he hoped was a sunken pirate ship, but it was just a discarded shopping cart.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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