time-of-flight
adjective
: of, relating to, being, or done with an instrument (such as a mass spectrometer) that separates particles (such as ions) according to the time required for them to traverse a tube of a certain length
Examples of time-of-flight in a Sentence
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Then, researchers used an optical aerosol spectrometer and a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer to measure the concentrations of two key indoor air pollutants: particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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Sarah Garone, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
There's a time-of-flight sensor cooked in that allows for autofocus and auto keystone correction, which should make setup relatively painless.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
Integrated sensors are used both for feedback control and user input: time-of-flight sensors provide the position of each finger and an IMU provides overall orientation tracking.
—Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2016
Most early automotive lidars, like most early radars, used what is called time-of-flight (ToF) detection.
—Michael Watts, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2023
For this application, many consumer electronics companies use a time-of-flight system, which has two optical components: one that transmits light and one that receives it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2023
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Sarah Garone, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
There's a time-of-flight sensor cooked in that allows for autofocus and auto keystone correction, which should make setup relatively painless.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2024
Integrated sensors are used both for feedback control and user input: time-of-flight sensors provide the position of each finger and an IMU provides overall orientation tracking.
—Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2016
Most early automotive lidars, like most early radars, used what is called time-of-flight (ToF) detection.
—Michael Watts, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2023
For this application, many consumer electronics companies use a time-of-flight system, which has two optical components: one that transmits light and one that receives it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Time-of-flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time-of-flight. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
time-of-flight
adjective
: of, relating to, being, or done with an instrument (as a mass spectrometer) that separates particles (as ions) according to the time required for them to traverse a tube of a certain length
a time-of-flight imaging system
time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography
—abbreviation TOF
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