radiotelegraph

1 9.5

A system for sending messages by radio instead of using wires

noun
/ˌreɪdioʊˈtɛlɪˌɡræf/

Archaic

: radiotelegrafía

There's radiotelegraph.

Examples

In the early 20th century, ships relied on a radiotelegraph to communicate with land stations during long voyages.
The advent of the radiotelegraph revolutionized maritime communication, allowing messages to be sent without wires.
During World War II, the military used the radiotelegraph for secure communications across vast distances.

Synonyms

wireless telegraphy

vsradiotelegraph

Archaic

1 7.4

Sending messages by radio without using wires

emphasizes a system or method rather than the general act of sending

radiotelegraphy

vsradiotelegraph

Archaic

8.9

Sending messages by radio often using Morse code

is the same idea but uses a different noun form ending with y

wireless telegraph

vsradiotelegraph

Archaic

7.1

Sending messages by radio using dots and dashes called Morse code

describes the broader system using radio waves instead of wires rather than transmission details

Surface Forms

radiotelegraph singular

radiotelegraphs plural

Morphology

radiotelegraph = radio + telegraph (transparent) = radio + telegraph

Clear compound of 'radio' + 'telegraph' whose meaning 'telegraph messages sent by radio waves' is directly predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Radiotelegraph combines radio and telegraph: radio points to sending signals by 'radio waves', and telegraph comes from tele- and -graph meaning 'far' and 'writing'. So a radiotelegraph is like sending a written 'message' through the air using radio instead of wires.