subcarrier

or sub-car·ri·er

[ suhb-kar-ee-er ]

noun

, Radio.

1. a carrier wave used to modify or modulate another carrier wave.

subcarrier

/ ˈsʌbˌkærɪə /

noun

1. a subsidiary carrier wave that is modulated with information and applied as modulation to a main carrier wave that is already modulated with other information

Word History and Origins

Origin of subcarrier¹

First recorded in 1950–55; sub- + carrier