weather radar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical/Common in broadcast and general weather reporting.
Quick answer
What does “weather radar” mean?
An electronic system, often a ground-based station or onboard equipment, that uses radio waves to detect precipitation (rain, snow, hail), its intensity, movement, and location, primarily for meteorological forecasting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An electronic system, often a ground-based station or onboard equipment, that uses radio waves to detect precipitation (rain, snow, hail), its intensity, movement, and location, primarily for meteorological forecasting.
1. A technology used for tracking and predicting weather systems. 2. (Figuratively, informal) A person's or system's capacity to anticipate changes, problems, or trends in a specific area (e.g., 'He's got great political weather radar').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling conventions follow national norms (e.g., 'meteorological' vs. 'meteorologic' in technical contexts is rare).
Connotations
None. The term is technically neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties due to the universal nature of the technology in meteorology.
Grammar
How to Use “weather radar” in a Sentence
The [adjective] weather radar detected [noun phrase].[Subject] is/are on the weather radar.[Subject] fell off/under the weather radar.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “weather radar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- weather-radar data
- weather-radar images
American English
- weather-radar system
- weather-radar display
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically in risk management: 'That emerging competitor is on our weather radar.'
Academic
Discussed in meteorology, physics, and engineering papers on remote sensing technology.
Everyday
Common in news reports and casual planning: 'Let me check the weather radar before we decide to go hiking.'
Technical
Specific discussions of reflectivity, velocity data, dual-polarization, and NEXRAD (US) or Met Office systems (UK).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “weather radar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “weather radar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “weather radar”
- Incorrect article use: 'a weather radar' is fine for one device, but often used uncountably: 'look at weather radar'.
- Misspelling as 'whether radar'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to weather radar a storm' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Weather radar actively sends out radio waves to detect precipitation in the atmosphere relatively close by. Satellites passively capture images using various light spectra from space, showing cloud cover over larger areas.
No, it is exclusively a noun. You cannot say 'to weather radar' something.
Doppler radar is the standard, as it can measure both the location of precipitation and the velocity of the particles, allowing it to detect rotation in storms which may indicate tornadoes.
It means to avoid detection or attention, to go unnoticed by authorities or the public.
An electronic system, often a ground-based station or onboard equipment, that uses radio waves to detect precipitation (rain, snow, hail), its intensity, movement, and location, primarily for meteorological forecasting.
Weather radar is usually technical/common in broadcast and general weather reporting. in register.
Weather radar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈweðə ˌreɪ.dɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈweðər ˌreɪ.dɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On/off the radar (figurative)”
- “Fly under the radar (figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RADAR dish scanning the sky, not for planes, but for WEATHER like rain and storms.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREDICTION/ANTICIPATION IS DETECTING ON A SCREEN. Problems are storms approaching on a radar screen.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, if something is 'on your weather radar,' it means you are: