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Glite Dictionary
echo sounder

echo sounder

1 5.3
A device that measures water depth by sending sound and timing the echo
  • noun
  • /ˈɛkoʊ ˈsaʊndər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sonda de eco
  • The research team used an echo sounder to measure the depth of the ocean floor during their expedition.

Examples

  • The team also successfully tested an echo sounder that they attached to the gliders to measure krill biomass.

    Blog text (34)

  • The echo sounder uses sonar to detect krill swarms in the water column.

    Blog text (34)

  • System parameters limit the absolute ability of an echo sounder to separate near-bottom targets from the bottom itself, and fish in contact with the bottom cannot be assessed by echo integration.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Our boat is equipped with an echo sounder that sends out sound waves to find the underwater topography.

  • Fishermen often rely on an echo sounder to locate schools of fish beneath the surface of the water.

Synonyms

sonar
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
79 4.0

A device that uses sound to find objects under water

measures vertical depth by timing returns from the seabed rather than general detection
sounder
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
11 7.9

A device that measures water depth by sending sound and listening for its return

focuses on timing returns specifically from the seabed
fathometer
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A device that uses sound waves to measure the depth of water

uses general pulses and timing rather than specifying ultrasonic technology
depth finder
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A device that shows how deep the water is

is used to send pulses and time returns specifically from the seabed
sonic depth finder
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
7.6

A device that uses sound waves to measure how deep water or things under it are

focuses on returns from the seabed rather than general object distance
echo sounding
vsecho sounder
  • Specialized
6.1

A way to find water depth and underwater objects by sending sound and measuring its return time

is the instrument that sends pulses and measures their timing from the seabed

How Deep

sonar
  • Specialized
79 4.0
echo sounder
  • Specialized
1 5.3
bathometer
  • Archaic
9.9
sounding line
  • Archaic
8.9

Surface Forms

echo sounder singular
echo sounders plural

Morphology

echo + sounder

The meaning is directly compositional: an instrument ('sounder') that uses echoes (reflected sound) to measure depth. Knowing 'echo' and 'sounder' allows a B1 learner to infer the device's function, and similar compound patterns exist cross-linguistically, so the expression is immediately understandable.

Etymology

Echo sounder comes from a simple image: a ship sends a short sound down and waits for the echo to come back. By timing how long the echo takes, the crew can 'measure depth', so the device is a sounder that uses echo.