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Definition of echolocate

echolocate

/ˈɛk.oʊ.loʊˌkeɪt/
ech · o · lo · cate
Adjective:echolocative
•
Past Simple:echolocated
•
Past Participle:echolocated
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Present Participle:echolocating
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echolocate Lexical Profile

echolocate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To determine the location of objects or navigate through an environment by emitting sound waves and interpreting the reflected echoes (used both with and without an object, especially of animals such as bats, dolphins, and toothed whales).

Example

"Toothed whales echolocate in dark ocean depths by producing rapid series of clicks to detect prey."

• Nearby Words

echo
echoer
echoey
echolocate
echolocation
eclair
eclectic

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century as a back-formation from the noun 'echolocation', combining 'echo' (from Ancient Greek 'ēkhō', meaning 'sound') and 'locate' (from Latin 'locāre', meaning 'to place'). The term was introduced by American zoologist Donald Griffin in 1944 to describe how bats navigate using reflected sound waves.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Echolocate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/echolocate
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