autodynes
|au-to-dynes|
/ˈɔːtəˌdaɪn/
(autodyne)
self-oscillating device
Etymology
'autodyne' is formed from the Greek prefix 'auto-' meaning 'self' and the element '-dyne' (from Greek 'dunamis' meaning 'power' or 'force'), coined in English in the early 20th century in technical contexts.
'autodyne' was coined in English as a compound (modeled on terms like 'heterodyne') and came into use in radio-engineering writings in the early 1900s to describe circuits where oscillation and detection occur in the same device.
Originally built from roots meaning 'self' + 'power/force', the term evolved to refer specifically to a self-oscillating or self-mixing type of radio circuit or receiver rather than a literal 'self-force'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of radio receiver or circuit in which the detector device also functions as the local oscillator or regenerative element (i.e., a receiver that uses self-oscillation or mixing within a single device).
The technician adjusted the autodyne to reduce interference and improve sensitivity.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/25 05:12