Plain English Meaning
A radio station on the ground that lets your aircraft work out which direction it is from the station. You pick the line you want to fly along, and the cockpit instrument shows whether you are on it, left of it, or right of it.
Full Definition
A ground-based radio navigation aid that transmits signals in the very high frequency (VHF) band, allowing a properly equipped aircraft to determine its bearing to or from the station along any of 360 selectable courses, called radials, radiating outward from the station.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter VOR information on and cockpit displays when flying by instruments or using as a backup to .