intermediate frequency

American  

noun

Radio.

1. the middle frequency in a superheterodyne receiver, at which most of the amplification takes place. if

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intermediate frequency British  

noun

1. electronics the frequency to which the signal carrier frequency is changed in a superheterodyne receiver and at which most of the amplification takes place

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Etymology

Origin of intermediate frequency

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

At some intermediate frequency f0 , the reactances will be equal and cancel, giving Z = R —this is a minimum value for impedance, and a maximum value for Irms results.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

We provide a local oscillator of 270,000 cycles a second, receive by this “super-heterodyne” method which I have just described, and so obtain an intermediate frequency.

From Letters of a Radio-Engineer to His Son by Mills, John

Related Words

• high frequency