heterodyne

[ het-er-uh-dahyn ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a method of changing the frequency of an incoming radio signal by adding it to a signal generated within the receiver to produce fluctuations or beats of a frequency equal to the difference between the two signals.

verb (used without object)

, het·er·o·dyned, het·er·o·dyn·ing.

1. to produce a heterodyne effect.

verb (used with object)

, het·er·o·dyned, het·er·o·dyn·ing.

1. to mix (a frequency) with a different frequency so as to achieve a heterodyne effect.

heterodyne

/ ˈhɛtərəʊˌdaɪn /

verb

1. See superheterodyne receiver
   electronics to combine by intermodulation (two alternating signals, esp radio signals) to produce two signals having frequencies corresponding to the sum and the difference of the original frequencies See also superheterodyne receiver

adjective

1. produced by, operating by, or involved in heterodyning two signals

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterodyne¹

1905–10; hetero- + -dyne < Greek dýnamis power

Example Sentences

This method of receiving continuous wave signals is called the “heterodyne” method.

From Project Gutenberg

This is spoken of either as the “super-heterodyne” or as the “intermediate-frequency amplification” method of reception.

From Project Gutenberg

The connections for the autodyne, or self-heterodyne, receiving set are shown in Fig. 60.

From Project Gutenberg

From this you will see that any regenerative set can be used for autodyne, or self-heterodyne, reception.

From Project Gutenberg

In using either of these heterodyne receivers be sure to carefully adjust the B battery by means of the potentiometer.

From Project Gutenberg