backscatter

noun

back·​scat·​ter ˈbak-ˌska-tər How to pronounce backscatter (audio)
variants or less commonly backscattering
: the scattering of radiation or particles in a direction opposite to that of the incident radiation due to reflection from particles of the medium traversed
also : the radiation or particles so reversed in direction
backscatter verb

Examples of backscatter 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.
While the team didn't directly detect the presence of the fish, acoustic backscatter data was consistent with fish aggregations, and the plankton net hauls every morning had high concentrations of anchovy eggs. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2023 This includes important features like backscatter values, which represent information about ground objects like vegetation. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Dec. 2023 Charting the backscatter data, the Rutgers University PhD candidate traced the undulations of migrating marine life. WIRED, 9 Dec. 2023 Monitoring how backscatter varies over time creates a signature of the disturbance. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023 Enlarge / Sample images obtained using underwater backscatter imaging. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2022 During the first expedition to search for SS Norlindo, scientists used autonomous underwater vehicle Eagle Ray to collect bathymetry and backscatter data to identify potential targets that may be the shipwreck. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2023 This technique can measure the depth of the sea floor (bathymetry) and the backscatter, which indicates the intensity of the returning echoes detected by the array. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 Sep. 2022 Many researchers worldwide have been exploring related passive communication methods, known as backscatter. Joshua R. Smith, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of backscatter was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near backscatter

Cite this Entry

“Backscatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backscatter. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!