Word
radar
US/ˈɹeɪˌdɑɹ/
UK/ɹˈeɪdɑː/
Definitions
01detection system
n. a system that uses radio waves to find where objects are and how fast they are moving.
n. a method or device for detecting distant objects and determining their position or velocity by analysing reflected radio waves.
“The ship's radar showed another vessel approaching through the thick fog.”
“Air traffic controllers rely on sophisticated primary radar to maintain safe distances between aircraft during peak travel periods at the international airport.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the technology, or countable when referring to the specific device.
02awareness or attention
n. your ability to notice things or the attention people pay to something.
n. a figurative capacity for detection, awareness, or social intuition; often used in the phrase 'on the radar' or 'under the radar'.
“The new technology wasn't even on my radar until you mentioned it.”
“The small startup managed to stay under the radar for two years, developing its product in secret before a major public launch.”
Informal
Teaching tip
Commonly used in business and social contexts to describe whether something is being considered or noticed.
03to scan
v. to check or track something using a radar device.
v. to use a radar apparatus to scan or monitor a person, object, or area.
“The police radared the cars as they drove past the school zone.”
“Coastal patrol units radared the horizon throughout the night to intercept any unidentified vessels entering territorial waters.”
Technical
Usage
This transitive verb use is less common in general conversation than the noun form.
Real-World Examples
“And, yet, Afghanistan has fallen far under the world's radar.” “Since elevated Lp(a) often flies completely under the radar, a simple blood test could uncover hidden heart risk that standard cholesterol testing may miss.” “Radar aboard Europa Clipper may help researchers determine whether shallow reservoirs are present and reveal their size and structure.” “During World War II, Vannevar Bush , who coordinated much of the nation’s wartime research effort, led federal programs that created new technologies such as radar and mass-produced penicillin .” Word family
Idioms
drop off the radar — To vanish or fall into obscurity; to become forgotten or ignored.
fly under the radar — To go unnoticed, especially for a long period of time.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/radar