noun
also re·con·nois·sance rēˈkänəzən(t)s, rə̇ˈ-, -əsən-
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French reconnaissance recognition, exploration, from obsolete reconnoissance, from Middle French reconoissance — more at recognizance
1. : an exploratory or preliminary survey, inspection, or examination made to gain information: as
a. : an exploratory military survey (as by aircraft or by the probes of small land units) of enemy territory and of enemy installations, movements, activities, and strength
b. : aerial photographing of activity (as shipping) or installations in friendly, enemy, or neutral areas
c.
(1) : an engineering survey of a region (as in preparing for triangulation of the region) designed especially to yield information about its general natural features
(2) : a geological survey of a region
2. or reconnaissance car : a fast military car used for reconnaissance and typically provided with light armor, machine guns, and a two-way radio