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 )

Example Sentences

Now, by listening to distant rocket launches with solar-powered balloons, researchers say they have finally detected hints of an aerial sound channel, although it does not seem to function as simply or reliably as the ocean SOFAR.

From Science Magazine

Like the marine SOFAR, the tropopause represents a cold region, where sound waves should travel slower and farther.

From Science Magazine

When Jim Lucchesse, chief executive of the music events company Sofar Sounds, turned to the alliance, he found he wasn’t alone in pushing for his workers to get the coronavirus vaccine.

From Washington Post

Not long after her moment of divine intervention, Yebba dropped out of college and moved to New York, where she played a 2016 show for the events company SoFar Sounds and sang a hypnotic song called “My Mind.”

From New York Times

But just a few weeks after the SoFar show, Yebba’s mother died by suicide.

From New York Times