Definition
A ground-based radio navigation aid that transmits VHF signals allowing a properly equipped aircraft to determine its bearing from the station along any of 360 selectable radials. The pilot tunes the station's frequency, selects a desired course on the cockpit indicator, and the instrument shows whether the aircraft is left of, right of, or on that course relative to the VOR ground station.
Plain English
A radio beacon on the ground that lets you fly directly toward it or away from it along a chosen line. Your cockpit instrument tells you if you are on that line or drifting off to one side.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument charts, arrival procedures, airway navigation, and instrument approaches when a route or course is based on a VOR station.
Derivation
VHF refers to Very High Frequency, the radio band the station broadcasts on (108.0–117.95 MHz). 'Omnidirectional' is from Latin omni- meaning 'all,' so the station sends usable signals in every direction. 'Range' here is the older aviation sense of a radio aid that defines courses through the sky, not 'how far away' something is.
Why Pilots Care
VOR provides reliable navigation along airways and to approach fixes, serving as a primary or backup method when GPS is unavailable.
Intuition Check
Do not read range here as only meaning distance. In this term, radio range means a radio navigation aid that helps define direction and course.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot tuned the VOR, set the course to 270, and tracked the radial westbound toward the next fix.
Example Sentence 2
During the arrival procedure the aircraft was cleared direct to the VOR before descending on the approach.