antenna
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a metal rod or wire used to send or receive radio and television signals.
a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves. Often used with 'aerial' as a synonym in British English.
Simple“The car's antenna was broken, so we couldn't listen to the radio during the trip.”
In context“Engineers adjusted the orientation of the satellite antenna to ensure a stable uplink during the heavy storm.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
one of the two long parts on the head of an insect or crustacean used for feeling or smelling.
a pair of mobile appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods, primarily used for sensory perception.
Simple“The butterfly moved its antenna as it landed on the bright flower.”
In context“The biologist observed how the beetle used its antennae to navigate the dark crevices of the forest floor.”
Synonymsfeeler - 03 C1 Advanced
your ability to notice or sense what is happening around you.
the faculty of intuitive astuteness or the ability to detect subtle social or political changes.
Simple“Her political antenna told her that the meeting was not going well.”
In context“A successful diplomat must have a sensitive antenna for the subtle shifts in international relations.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a long wooden pole used to hold a specific type of sail on a boat.
the spar to which a lateen sail is attached before being hoisted up the mast.
Simple“The sailors raised the antenna to catch the light breeze in the harbour.”
In context“The traditional Mediterranean vessel featured a long antenna angled sharply against the mast to support its triangular sail.”
“ALMA is made up of 66 antennas , 50 of which can be moved across the desert to make a telescope as wide as 10 miles (16 kilometers) across.”
From Latin antenna, antemna (“yard, sailyard; pole”). First used in this sense as a Latin word in the 15th century and as an English word by the end of the 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.