range finder

noun

Updated on: 2 Apr 2018

Definition of range finder

1 : an instrument used in gunnery to determine the distance of a target

2 : a surveying instrument (such as a transit) for determining quickly the distances, bearings, and elevations of distant objects

3 : a usually built-in adjustable optical device for focusing a camera that automatically indicates the correct focus (as when two parts of a split image are brought together)

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Recent Examples of range finder from the Web

Major automakers—along with upstarts such as Tesla and Uber—are racing to put self-driving cars on the road, leading to advances in enabling technologies such as laser range finders known as lidars.

— michael belfiore, Scientific American, "Portable Laser Range Finder Enables Real-Time 3-D Mapping," 1 May 2017
Investigators also found body armor, range finders and a homemade gas mask.

— adam goldman and jennifer medina, New York Times, "Las Vegas Gunman Took Elaborate Steps to Hide His Tracks, New Documents Show," 12 Jan. 2018
Concentrated, unfiltered sunlight can damage your single lens reflex camera’s sensor and cause eye damage when viewed through the optics of a range finder camera.

— wsj roundup, WSJ, "A Viewer’s Guide to How, When and Where to Watch the Eclipse," 18 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'range finder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.