compander

or com·pan·dor

[ kuhm-pan-der ]

noun

, Electronics.

1. (in a communications path) a combination of a compressor at one point and an expander at another, the compressor reducing the volume of a signal and the expander restoring it.

compander

/ kəmˈpændə /

noun

1. a system for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal at a transmitter or recorder by first compressing the volume range of the signal and then restoring it to its original amplitude level at the receiving or reproducing apparatus

Word History and Origins

Origin of compander¹

First recorded in 1965–70; com(press) + (ex)pand + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compander¹

C20: from com ( pressor ) + ( ex ) pander