omnidirectional antenna
- noun
- /ˌɑːmnɪdaɪˈrɛkʃənəl ænˈtɛnə/
- Specialized
- The engineer explained that the omnidirectional antenna could transmit signals evenly across a 360-degree area.
Examples
-
With omnidirectional antennas (red), the correlation increases with decreasing separation, as might be expected from (a).
Academic text (2001) -
The mobile phone relies on an omnidirectional antenna to pick up signals from all directions, ensuring better connectivity.
-
To improve reception in the city, they installed an omnidirectional antenna on the roof of the building.
Synonyms
An antenna that sends and receives radio signals equally in all directions
Antonyms
- Specialized
A device that sends or receives radio waves mostly in one direction
How Directional
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'omnidirectional' (in all directions) with 'antenna' (a device for transmitting/receiving signals), so the phrase literally denotes an antenna that works equally well in every direction. This is a straightforward, compositional technical term and has clear equivalents in other languages, making it understandable to a learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The noun omnidirectional antenna brings to mind a single antenna that sends and receives signals like ripples spreading out from the center, reaching everywhere around it. That's why it means an antenna that works the same 'in all directions'.