tracking radar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “tracking radar” mean?
A radar system designed to monitor and follow the movement of objects such as aircraft, missiles, or ships.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A radar system designed to monitor and follow the movement of objects such as aircraft, missiles, or ships.
In broader contexts, any system or method that uses radar technology for continuous surveillance and positioning of moving targets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; pronunciation varies slightly as per regional accents.
Connotations
Both carry the same technical connotations; in British English, it might be associated with Royal Air Force usage, while in American English, with US military.
Frequency
Equally common in technical domains in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “tracking radar” in a Sentence
tracking radar for [target]tracking radar systemtracking radar capable of [action]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tracking radar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The air defence system can track incoming missiles.
American English
- The defense system tracks incoming missiles.
adjective
British English
- It is a tracking device used for surveillance.
American English
- It's a tracking device used for monitoring.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in defense contracting and aerospace industries for system specifications.
Academic
Common in engineering and physics papers discussing radar technology and applications.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in news reports about military operations or space missions.
Technical
Standard term in radar engineering, aviation, and military communications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tracking radar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tracking radar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tracking radar”
- Misspelling as 'track radar' or 'tracking radars' when pluralizing incorrectly.
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'to tracking radar' instead of 'to track with radar'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracking radar is designed to continuously follow specific targets, while surveillance radar scans a wide area to detect objects without necessarily tracking them.
Yes, besides military use, tracking radar is used in air traffic control, maritime navigation, and space observation.
It emits radio waves that bounce off targets, and by analyzing the returned signals, it determines the target's position, speed, and direction.
Yes, heavy rain or fog can attenuate radar signals, but modern systems have technologies to mitigate such effects.
A radar system designed to monitor and follow the movement of objects such as aircraft, missiles, or ships.
Tracking radar is usually technical in register.
Tracking radar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrækɪŋ ˈreɪdɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtrækɪŋ ˈreɪdɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tracking' as following a path, and 'radar' as using radio waves to detect, so tracking radar follows objects with radio detection.
Conceptual Metaphor
The all-seeing eye; a guardian that never sleeps.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of tracking radar?