directional antenna
1
5.8
- noun
- /dɪˈrɛkʃənəl ænˈtɛnə/
- Specialized
:
antena direccional
- In general terms, the goal is to use directional antennas with high front-to-back ratios and narrow beam widths to provide greater control of signals.
- use a directional antenna
Examples
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I could drive through downtown D.C. with a directional antenna, a black-and-white TV, and a few bucks' worth of electronic parts and steal the information off every computer network in every law firm, accounting firm, and government facility in the city.
Fiction book (1997) -
Many outdoor enthusiasts use a directional antenna to improve their communication with base stations while on expeditions.
-
They aim a directional antenna using slow, sweeping motions.
Fiction book (1998) -
The new technology includes three industry-leading innovations: the addition of directional antennas and dual modems on each aircraft and the deployment of EV-DO Rev. B technology.
Blog text (9) -
To enhance reception, she decided to install a directional antenna that could focus on a specific radio tower.
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The technician adjusted the directional antenna to optimize signal strength for the broadcast.
Synonyms
152
6.9
A set of antennas placed to send or receive signals in one direction
1
4.1
A curved metal dish that directs radio or satellite signals to a single point
A long, narrow antenna with several metal rods that points in one direction to send or receive radio signals
A curved metal dish that sends and receives signals from satellites
Antonyms
How Directional
- Specialized
1
4.1
- Specialized
1
5.8
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'directional' (relating to orientation or pointing) modifies 'antenna' (a device for transmitting/receiving signals), so a learner can infer an antenna that focuses transmission/reception in a particular direction. This is a regular adjective+noun combination found across languages and follows predictable semantic composition, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Directional antenna comes from the image of an antenna sending a narrow beam like a flashlight. The word directional shows it points its signal mostly one way and the antenna sends or receives radio signals, so it means 'an antenna that works in one direction'.