heterodyne

1 of 2

adjective

het·​ero·​dyne ˈhe-tə-rə-ˌdīn 

ˈhe-trə-

: of or relating to the production of an electrical beat between two radio frequencies of which one usually is that of a received signal-carrying current and the other that of an uninterrupted current introduced into the apparatus

also : of or relating to the production of a beat between two optical frequencies

heterodyne

2 of 2

verb

heterodyned; heterodyning

transitive verb

: to combine (something, such as a radio frequency) with a different frequency so that a beat is produced

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

heter- + -dyne, modification of Greek dynamis power — more at dynamic

First Known Use

Adjective

1908, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1923, in the meaning defined above