antenna

[ an-ten-uh ]
See synonyms for: antennaantennae on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural an·ten·nas for 1, an·ten·nae [an-ten-ee] /ænˈtɛn i/ for 2.
  1. a conductor by which electromagnetic waves are sent out or received, consisting commonly of a wire or set of wires; aerial.

  2. Zoology. one of the jointed, movable, sensory appendages occurring in pairs on the heads of insects and most other arthropods.

Origin of antenna

1
1640–50; <Latin: a sailyard

Other words from antenna

  • an·ten·nal, adjective
  • post·an·ten·nal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use antenna in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for antenna

antenna

/ (ænˈtɛnə) /


noun
  1. plural -nae (-naɪ) one of a pair of mobile appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, etc, that are often whiplike and respond to touch and taste but may be specialized for swimming or attachment

  2. plural -nas another name for aerial (def. 7)

Origin of antenna

1
C17: from Latin: sail yard, of obscure origin

Derived forms of antenna

  • antennal or antennary, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for antenna

antenna

[ ăn-tĕnə ]


  1. One of a pair of long, slender, segmented appendages on the heads of insects, centipedes, millipedes, and crustaceans. Most antennae are organs of touch, but some are sensitive to odors and other stimuli.

  2. A metallic device for sending or receiving electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves. Some antennas can send waves in or receive waves from all directions; others are designed to work only in a range of directions.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.