antenna

noun

an·​ten·​na an-ˈte-nə 

plural antennae an-ˈte-(ˌ)nē  or antennas

1

plural antennae : one of a pair of slender, movable, segmented sensory organs on the head of insects, myriapods, and crustaceans see insect illustration

2

: a usually metallic device (such as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves

a TV antenna

3

antennae plural : a special sensitivity or receptiveness

… his political antennae proved to be shrewder than ever.

—Erich Segal

antennal

an-ˈte-nᵊl 

adjective

Did you know?

The Latin word antenna meant “sail yard,” which is the long spar that supports and spreads the sail on a sailing vessel. The Greek word for a sail yard was keraia, but that was only one meaning of this word. The primary meaning was “horn.” The philosopher Aristotle used keraiai to describe the feelers of insects, probably because of their resemblance to the horns of some larger animals. In a Latin translation of Aristotle’s work made during the Renaissance, the word antennae was used for Greek keraiai. In English we still use antennae for insects’ feelers. And now we also use antenna for the metal rods that pick up radio waves and seem to “feel the air” like the antennae of an insect.

Examples of antenna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gero held the antenna aloft and put his ear to some kind of receiver. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023

That said, much of the satellite is functioning, save for a defective antenna. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 25 Aug. 2023

The school district is also working with the village’s Public Safety Department by installing antennas in the schools. —Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2023

Last month, a three-man team successfully directed a drone to hit their target — a cluster of antennas in a town occupied by Russian troops. —Paulina Villegas, Washington Post, 6 Aug. 2023

This is mainly due to the fact that Sling requires a digital antenna and AirTV device to access most local stations. —Stacey Nguyen, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2023

This technique adjusts the phase of the signals leaving each of several antennas in such a way that radio waves interfere with one another constructively in one direction and destructively in other directions. —Michael Watts, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2023

The unexpected change means ground antennas of the Deep Space Network (DSN) can't receive any data from or transmit any further commands to the probe. —Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 31 July 2023

Another way to watch the ESPYs and the NBA Finals for free on your TV is with an HDTV antenna. —oregonlive, 12 July 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, sail yard

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing antenna

• community antenna television
• whip antenna

• community antenna television
• whip antenna

Kids Definition

antenna

noun

an·​ten·​na an-ˈten-ə 

plural antennae -ˈten-(ˌ)ē  or antennas

1

plural usually antennae : one of a pair of slender movable organs of sensation on the head of an arthropod (as an insect or a crab) that are made up of segments

2

plural usually antennas : a device (as a rod or wire) for sending or receiving radio waves