antenna

 
Pronunciation: /anˈtɛnə/

noun (plural antennae /-niː/)

  • 1 Zoology either of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and some other arthropods: bugs use their antennae to detect blood heat
  • (antennae) the faculty of instinctively detecting and interpreting subtle signs: he has the political antennae of a party whip
  • 2 (plural also antennas) chiefly North American or technicalanother term for aerial. a TV antenna

Derivatives

antennal

adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin, alteration of antemna 'yard' (of a ship), used in the plural to translate Greek keraioi 'horns (of insects)', used by Aristotle