radio

¹

[rey-dee-oh]

noun

plural

radios 

1. wireless telegraphy or telephony.

   speeches broadcast by radio.

2. an apparatus for receiving or transmitting radio broadcasts.

3. a message transmitted by radio.

adjective

1. pertaining to, used in, or sent by radio.

2. pertaining to or employing radiations, as of electrical energy.

verb (used with object)

radioed, radioing 

1. to transmit (a message, music, etc.) by radio.

2. to send a message to (a person) by radio.

verb (used without object)

radioed, radioing 

1. to transmit a message, music, etc., by radio.

radio-

²

1. a combining form with the meanings “dealing with radiant energy” (radiometer ), “employing or dealing with radio waves” (radioacoustics; radiolocation; radiotelephone ), “emitting rays as a result of the breakup of atomic nuclei” (radioactive; radiocarbon ), “characterized by, employing or dealing with such rays” (radiography; radiopaque; radiotherapy ).

radio-

¹

combining form

1. denoting radio, broadcasting, or radio frequency

   radiogram

2. indicating radioactivity or radiation

   radiochemistry

   radiolucent

3. indicating a radioactive isotope or substance

   radioactinium

   radiothorium

   radioelement

radio

²

/ ˈreɪdɪəʊ /

noun

1. the use of electromagnetic waves, lying in the radio-frequency range, for broadcasting, two-way communications, etc

2. Also called (esp Brit): wireless. an electronic device designed to receive, demodulate, and amplify radio signals from sound broadcasting stations, etc

3. a similar device permitting both transmission and reception of radio signals for two-way communications

4. the broadcasting, content, etc, of sound radio programmes

   he thinks radio is poor these days

5. 1. the occupation or profession concerned with any aspect of the broadcasting of sound radio programmes

      he's in radio

   2. (modifier) relating to, produced for, or transmitted by sound radio

      radio drama

6. short for radiotelegraph radiotelegraphy radiotelephone

7. (modifier)

   1. of, relating to, employed in, or sent by radio signals

      a radio station

   2. of, concerned with, using, or operated by radio frequencies

      radio spectrum

8. (modifier) (of a motor vehicle) equipped with a radio for communication

   radio car

verb

1. to transmit (a message) to (a person, radio station, etc) by means of radio waves

radio

1. The equipment used to generate, alter, transmit, and receive radio waves so that they carry information.

1. Relating to or involving the emission of radio waves.

Other Word Forms

• preradio adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of radio¹

1910–15; shortening of radiotelegraph or radiotelegraphy

Origin of radio²

< French, combining form representing Latin radius beam, ray, radius

Word History and Origins

Origin of radio¹

from French, from Latin radius ray; see _radius

Origin of radio²

C20: short for radiotelegraphy

Example Sentences

Fellow beekeeper Heleen Nieman told Dutch radio that she had three bee colonies and wanted to give him one of them.

Read more on BBC

Kids eagerly followed along on transistor radios as they traveled home from school, to then catch the remainder on TV.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Erick Erickson, a talk radio host based in Macon, Ga., landed in the emergency room with severe clots in his lungs nine years ago.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“The Fate of Ophelia” is getting the music video treatment, radio push and prominent placement on streaming services that is typical of a lead single.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Another site near borough hall now commemorates the first worldwide broadcasts by a local radio station in the 1920s and “the earliest transmissions of electronic television images.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• transmission 
• wireless