asdic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low / ObsoleteHistorical, Technical (Naval/Military History)
Quick answer
What does “asdic” mean?
A historical active sonar system for detecting submarines by emitting sound pulses and listening for echoes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical active sonar system for detecting submarines by emitting sound pulses and listening for echoes.
Primarily used to refer to early 20th-century naval sonar technology, especially that developed and used by the Allies during World War I and World War II for anti-submarine warfare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated from the British Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee (A.S.D.I.C.), but was also adopted by other Allied navies, including the US, during the wars.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes a specific historical period (the World Wars) and early technological development in underwater detection.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both BrE and AmE, found almost exclusively in historical texts, documentaries, or museums.
Grammar
How to Use “asdic” in a Sentence
The ship [VERB] using asdic.The asdic [VERB] a submarine.They equipped the destroyer with [NOUN: asdic].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “asdic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The corvette was asdicing ahead, sweeping for U-boats.
American English
- The destroyer asdiced the area but found nothing.
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The asdic operator reported a faint contact.
American English
- They reviewed the asdic logs from the engagement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, military, or maritime engineering papers discussing WWII naval technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be unknown to most speakers.
Technical
Used precisely in historical technical descriptions of warship systems and anti-submarine warfare tactics from the first half of the 20th century.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “asdic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “asdic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “asdic”
- Using 'asdic' to refer to modern sonar systems.
- Pronouncing it /ˈæsdɪk/ instead of /ˈæzdɪk/.
- Spelling it 'asdic' in lowercase; it was often capitalized historically as it is an initialism.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The specific technology called 'asdic' is obsolete. Its functions have been absorbed and vastly improved upon by modern integrated sonar systems.
'Asdic' is a historical term for a specific type of active sonar system developed in the early-to-mid 20th century. 'Sonar' (SOund NAvigation and Ranging) is the broader, modern term encompassing all types of underwater sound-based detection, navigation, and communication.
It is an acronym from the 'Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee', a British research group established during World War I.
Only in very specific contexts, such as discussing historical naval technology, writing military history, or visiting maritime museums. In all contemporary discussions, 'sonar' is the correct and universally understood term.
A historical active sonar system for detecting submarines by emitting sound pulses and listening for echoes.
Asdic is usually historical, technical (naval/military history) in register.
Asdic: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæzdɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæzdɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this highly technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: **A**llied **S**ubmarine **D**etection **I**n **C**ommittee. A-S-D-I-C spells 'asdic'.
Conceptual Metaphor
[Not applicable for this concrete, historical device]
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'asdic' specifically refer to?