✈️ In the air 📡 A signal device 🏈 A high throw 🪽 Light or delicate

aerial

10 5.1

A metal rod or wire that sends and gets radio and TV signals

noun
/ˈɛəriəl/

: antena

Chris steps towards a pole, holding the new aerial against the pole.

Any old wire will work as an aerial.

Examples

The old aerial was replaced with a more modern one to improve signal quality.
Look at the size of that aerial.

The Castle (1997)
"I'll go up on the roof and adjust the aerial."

Falling Overnight (2011)
Did you get the aerials?

Three Kings (1999)
I don't see any aerial.

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
I have to go over to the right side, the starboard side to see the Marconi aerial.

Titanic (1953)
The technician climbed to the roof to install a new aerial for better reception.
After a storm, we noticed the aerial was damaged and needed repair.

Synonyms

antenna

vsaerial

96 3.7

A metal device on a roof or car that sends and receives radio and TV signals

is the broader device term covering both sending and receiving functions

tv-antenna

vsaerial

3 3.2

A device that receives television signals, often placed on a roof

is more general, applying to both television and radio signal use

radio antenna

vsaerial

3 3.2

A metal device on a roof or car that catches radio signals

is the more general device for both radio and television signals

television antenna

vsaerial

Specialized

1 3.2

A metal device on a roof or wall that receives TV signals

is the general term that also includes transmission devices

directional antenna

vsaerial

Specialized

1 5.8

A device that sends or receives radio waves mostly in one direction

is more general and does not imply a focused directional pattern

dipole

vsaerial

Specialized

1 8.1

Two straight metal rods joined at the center to form a radio antenna for sending and receiving signals

is broader, covering many shapes and constructions for signals

radio aerial

vsaerial

3.9

A long thin metal rod that picks up radio signals for a car or home radio

is the general term that covers more signal types and uses

transmitting aerial

vsaerial

5.3

An antenna that sends radio or TV signals

covers both transmitting and receiving devices rather than only sending

dipole antenna

vsaerial

Specialized

7.4

An antenna with two metal rods placed in a straight line with a connection in the middle

is the general device term not limited to this two‑rod form

dish aerial

vsaerial

6.8

A curved metal dish that sends and receives signals from satellites

is the general signal device not limited to reflector shapes

Compounds

aerial photography

Specialized

3 3.8

Taking photos of land and buildings from the air using a plane or drone

aerial ladder

Specialized

1 5.6

A long ladder on a fire truck that extends to reach high places and rescue people

aerial torpedo

Specialized

1 9.1

A weapon released from a plane that moves under water to hit ships or submarines

dish aerial

6.8

A curved metal dish that sends and receives signals from satellites

aerial ladder truck

Specialized

7.0

A fire engine with a long ladder that can extend to reach high places for fighting fires or rescuing people

aerial ping pong

Informal

9.7

A casual game where players hit balloons or flying discs in the air

aerial tramway

6.3

A way of carrying people in cabins that hang from cables above the ground

radio aerial

3.9

A long thin metal rod that picks up radio signals for a car or home radio

transmitting aerial

5.3

An antenna that sends radio or TV signals

Yagi aerial

9.5

An antenna that points in one direction with one center rod and several side rods for TV and radio reception

How Powerful

dish

Specialized

110 6.6

array

Specialized

152 6.9

directional antenna

Specialized

1 5.8

aerial

10 5.1

radio aerial

3.9

Surface Forms

aerial singular

aerials plural

Etymology

Aerial comes from the Latin root aer meaning 'air', so an aerial is a device that sends or receives signals through the air.