medium wave
1
4.5
- noun
- /ˈmiːdiəm weɪv/
- Specialized
:
onda media
- Many listeners still prefer medium wave for AM radio broadcasts due to its longer reach.
Examples
-
You have not shown any interest in keeping radio broadcasting—either getting FM or medium wave.
Blog text (1) -
The indicator needle was between 14 and 16 on the medium wave, and Arkady realized he was listening to Radio Liberty.
Fiction book (1992) -
In May 2005, SW Radio announced that it was in deep financial crisis and was ceasing airing on short-wave, leaving the station with just its web cast and a medium-wave broadcast.
Academic text (2009) -
(n33) <> L: CYBER-GUERRILLAS SW Radio and Voice of America broadcast only for a few hours each day on short-wave and medium wave, streaming podcasts to stay within their budgets.
Academic text (2009) -
In 1957, the WRMF organized the All-Ecuador Gospel Network, buying airtime on secular stations in Ecuador in order to broadcast HCJB programs more widely on multiple medium-wave frequencies.
Academic text (2007) -
The radio station announced its schedule for the week on medium wave frequencies.
-
During the storm, we could only pick up the news on the medium wave band.
Synonyms
19
3.2
A wave of invisible energy that sends signals to radios and phones
5
7.5
A range of radio frequencies used for AM radio and ship communication
A radio band used by AM stations and ship radios
Waves that carry sound and pictures through the air, like radio and TV signals
How High
- Specialized
55
3.7
- Specialized
1
4.6
- Specialized
1
4.9
- Specialized
1
4.5
- Specialized
1
5.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built — 'medium' (middle/intermediate) + 'wave' (a type of wave) yields the idea of a wave of intermediate wavelength, so part of the meaning is inferable from the parts. However, the specific technical sense as the AM radio frequency band (with precise wavelength/frequency ranges and broadcasting usage) requires domain knowledge and is unlikely to be fully predictable by a B1 learner, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Medium wave comes from early radio days when people named radio waves by their size; a medium wave sits between a long wave and a short wave, so the name gives a simple picture of a wave of middle size. That's why today medium wave refers to the radio 'band' used for 'AM' radio broadcasting.