time-of-flight

adjective

ˈtīm-ə(v)-ˈflīt How to pronounce time-of-flight (audio)
: 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

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.
Obstacle Avoidance systems usually feature six vision sensors (two at the front, rear and bottom) and a downward infrared time-of-flight (ToF) sensor. — James Abbott, Space.com, 24 Feb. 2026 Not a Wheelchair—an EV EV1 combines two lidar units, two cameras, 10 time-of-flight depth sensors, and six ultrasonic sensors. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2026 The breakthrough came with a time-of-flight camera, which allowed the flying umbrella to track and follow a user directly, even in the dark. — New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2026 Their three robotic rovers, outfitted with an array of cutting-edge imagery gear including time-of-flight cameras, helped the team generate an atlas of 3D maps of the site - from its skylight to its inner passageways. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for time-of-flight

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of time-of-flight was in 1945

Rhymes for time-of-flight

See All Rhymes for time-of-flight

Browse Nearby Words

time of day
time-of-flight
time of year
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Cite this Entry

“Time-of-flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time-of-flight. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

time-of-flight

adjective
ˌtīm-ə(v)-ˌflīt How to pronounce time-of-flight (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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