early-warning system: Meaning and Definition of

ear'ly-warn'ing sys"tem

Pronunciation: (ûr'lē wôr'ning), [key]
  1. a network of radar installations designed to detect enemy aircraft or missiles in time for the effective deployment of defense systems.
  2. any series of steps established to spot potential problems.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.