Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An unmoored sonar buoy equipped with an acoustic receiver and a radio transmitter that emits radio signals when it detects underwater sounds.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical, military A buoy that sends a radio signal when it detects the sound of underwater objects (such as submarines)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From sonar + buoy

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sonobuoy.

Examples

  • But after World War II, the Navy was interested in developing a so-called "sonobuoy" that would use sonar to detect submarines in the water and transmit the information to an airplane above.

    News 2011

  • SWEET: when used in reference to a sonobuoy, indicates that the buoy is functioning properly, although not necessarily holding any contacts.

    Terror At Dawn Douglass, Keith 2003

  • It was deeper than the Med, but the bottom was littered with wrecks and uncharted obstructions, all of which interfered with MAD and sonobuoy detections.

    Terror At Dawn Douglass, Keith 2003

  • HOT: in reference to a sonobuoy, holding enemy contact.

    Terror At Dawn Douglass, Keith 2003

  • When a submarine changes its course or speed in relation to a sonobuoy, the event shows up as a change in the frequency of the sound source.

    Terror At Dawn Douglass, Keith 2003

  • SWEET: When used in reference to a sonobuoy, indicates that the buoy is functioning properly, although not necessarily holding any contacts.

    Hellfire Douglass, Keith 2002

  • HOT: In reference to a sonobuoy, holding enemy contact.

    Hellfire Douglass, Keith 2002

  • When a submarine changes its course or speed in relation to a sonobuoy, the event shows up as a change in the frequency of the sound source.

    Hellfire Douglass, Keith 2002

  • Hot: In reference to a sonobuoy, holding enemy contact.

    Joint Operations Douglass, Keith 2000

  • On the West Coast, SUBPAC. sweet: When used in reference to a sonobuoy, indicates that the buoy is functioning properly, although not necessarily holding any contacts.

    Joint Operations Douglass, Keith 2000

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.