sofar

[ soh-fahr ]

noun

1. a system for determining a position at sea by exploding a charge under water and measuring the time the shock waves take to reach three widely separated shore stations at known distances from each other.

sofar

/ ˈsəʊfɑː /

noun

1. a system for determining a position at sea, esp that of survivors of a disaster, by exploding a charge underwater at that point. The times taken for the shock waves to travel through the water to three widely separated shore stations are used to calculate their position

Word History and Origins

Origin of sofar¹

1945–50; so(und) f(ixing) a(nd) r(anging)

Word History and Origins

Origin of sofar¹

C20: from so ( und ) f ( ixing ) a ( nd ) r ( anging )