Meaning
In full primary radar: a method of detecting a distant object and determining its position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysing radio waves (usually microwaves) which are sent towards the object and which reflect off its surfaces; also, the field of study of this method.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Latin radiusder. English radio- Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-der. Ancient Greek τῆλε (têle)lbor. French télé- Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō) Ancient Greek -γράφος (-gráphos)bor. Latin -graphuslbor. French -graphe French télégraphebor. English telegraph Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ieder. Middle English -ie Middle English -y English -y English telegraphy English radiotelegraphyclip. English radio Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg-der. Proto-Italic *tegō Latin tegō Latin dētegō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tio Latin dētēctiōder. Latin dētēctiōnembor. English detection Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *h₂énti Proto-Germanic *andi Old English and Middle English and English and Proto-Indo-European *(H)rek-der. Proto-Celtic *reketi Gaulish *rekosbor.? Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ-der. Proto-Germanic *rinkanąder. Proto-Germanic *rankaz Frankish *rankbor.? Vulgar Latin *rencus Old French reng Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Old French -ier Old French rengierbor. Middle English rengen English range Proto-Germanic *-ungō Old English -ung Middle English -ynge English -ing English ranging English RADAR English radar The noun is derived from RADAR by anacronymic evolution. RADAR is an acronym of ra(dio) d(etection) a(nd) r(anging) which was coined by Lieutenant-Commander Samuel M. Tucker and Lieutenant-Commander F. R. Furth of the United States Navy in November 1940. The verb is probably derived from the noun.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 32 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-10-07ABDFLOR
- 2026-08-06DABCIRT
- 2026-07-16DACIRTY
- 2026-07-03ADILNOR
- 2026-05-20ABODCKR
- 2026-04-17RNAMDBI
- 2026-02-03RACDIMT
- 2026-01-19DARWKLO
- 2025-11-28AYDRONI
- 2025-05-28DUATOBR
- 2025-03-05DARIGNW
- 2025-02-17DRANHCI
+20 earlier appearances in the archive.