lidar

noun

li·​dar ˈlī-ˌdär How to pronounce lidar (audio)
: a device that is similar in operation to radar but emits pulsed laser light instead of microwaves

Examples of lidar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More than thirteen hundred Waymos whir and glide in the region, the lidar sensors that spin in hat-like domes atop their roofs giving them an air of busy importance. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Reduced background light gave the lidar a cleaner optical environment for detecting weak returns. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 Duenas said that the lidar system will only record speeding cars, not every passing vehicle. — Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Its 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar units and onboard computing perceive the road and perform the entire driving task. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lidar

Word History

Etymology

light + radar

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lidar was in 1963

Rhymes for lidar

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Browse Nearby Words

lid
lidar
lid cell
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lidar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lidar. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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