carrier wave

British

noun

radio a wave of fixed amplitude and frequency that is modulated in amplitude, frequency, or phase in order to carry a signal in radio transmission, etc See amplitude modulation frequency modulation

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is done by varying the amplitude of the carrier wave in accordance with the frequency of the audio signal.

From Science Daily

The researchers modify their carrier wave by injecting a tiny warble at the frequency they hope to probe.

From Science Magazine

The FCC’s RFR exposure limits regulate the intensity of exposure, taking into account the frequency of the carrier waves, but ignore the signaling properties of the RFR.

From Scientific American

In this case a continuous carrier wave might look completely uninteresting, but in fact be wildly gesticulating in its polarization properties over time.

From Scientific American

When the aerial is earthed, part of the carrier wave will be absorbed.

From Economist

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023