"Firms home in on local search sites."
2006-09-05 15:44:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Home in on - Comes from World War 2. During bomb raids launched from England, they needed a way to find their way back after dark. There was no problem in daylight as then they could use landmarks. Radio direction finding was newly invented and the aircraft used this to get the direction to a fixed transmiter back home. By using two transmitters and taking a bearing to each, they could plot their position and navigate back to their home base, thus home in on the signals. Now it means to narrow a search to refine the result or as in a missle, navigate to a target based on a radio or radar signal or some other beacon which is the aiming point. The missle adjusts its course to hit the beacon, homing in on it. I'm not sure this usage you quote is really very good, close to, but not exactly appropriate in my opinion. My father was part of the development team who worked on homing beacons and airborne radar for Western Electric during the war.
Added 2 hours later than my initial entry:
The key to the homing beacon was high frequencies, what we call today, microwaves, which is the active ingredient in radar and the microwave oven in the kitchen. Microwaves are very directional based on the antenna used. The receiving antenna is a horn shape which limits the sensitivity to a few degrees, so it is possible to orient the receiving antenna to a few degrees within the actual direction to the transmitter, which was how they determined the bearing to the transmitter. It was a very new technology for the time, using microwaves. But, it worked. The bombers were able to home in on the base airfield to get home in spite of the darkness.
2006-09-05 15:57:46 · answer #1 · answered by rowlfe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look for local search sites.
2006-09-05 22:46:25 · answer #2 · answered by James 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means to zero in on, like a fighter pilot. To close in on, or to narrow the search. It is also stated as hone in on....meaning to sharpen up & bring into further clarity.
2006-09-05 22:51:25 · answer #3 · answered by Shadow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that T Time is correct & it is "hone in on". As others said, it means to zero in on or focus on.
2006-09-05 23:43:26 · answer #4 · answered by M3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
target
2006-09-05 23:41:50 · answer #5 · answered by ru.barbie2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means - to focus on, or or pay attention to.
2006-09-05 22:46:46 · answer #6 · answered by Bill M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ZERO IN.....LIKE A CAMERA LENS......FOCUS ON
2006-09-05 22:45:53 · answer #7 · answered by flowerspirit2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Gather near" or "seek".
2006-09-05 22:45:32 · answer #8 · answered by Eugena 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"hone"
2006-09-05 22:45:49 · answer #9 · answered by T Time 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋