Noun
An antenna, also known as an aerial, provides an interface between radio waves traveling through air or space and electrical currents traveling in metal conductors. Antennas are crucial components of radio equipment and are used with radio transmitters and receivers to:
- Transmit electric currents into radio waves (via transmitters).
- Intercept radio waves to convert them back into electric currents (via receivers).
Antennas consist of conductors linked to the receivers and transmitters and can be designed to emit or receive radio waves in various patterns:
- All directions (omni-directional antennas)
- A specific direction or "beam" (directional antennas)
- Restricted directions (semi-directional antennas)
Despite the variety in types and uses, from WiFi to radio broadcasting, all antennas operate under the same basic principle: transmitters send a signal intercepted by a receiver.
Example of Antenna in a sentence:
"A directional antenna allows for more precise targeting of radio signals."
Synonyms: aerial
Related Terms for Antenna: