antennas

IPA/ænˈten.ə/
KK[æntˈɛnəz]IPA/ænˈten.ə/

antennas — noun

  • antennassingular
  • antennasesplural

1. A thin, movable feeler that grows on each side of the head of an insect, crab, o

1.名詞B2
釋義

A thin, movable feeler that grows on each side of the head of an insect, crab, or similar animal, helping it touch, smell, and detect nearby movement.

例句

Yuki watched a crayfish wave its antennas back and forth in the shallow water.

wave its antennas — movement of the feelers

Butterfly antennas are covered in tiny hairs that help the insect smell flowers far away.

antennas covered in hairs — sensory function

同義詞
  • feeler

    less formal, everyday term; common in children's books and casual speech

  • palp

    technical; specifically refers to segmented appendages near the mouth in arthropods, not the main antenna pair

文法句型

antenna + [body part]

用法筆記

In biology writing, the Latin plural 'antennae' is often preferred for insect and crustacean feelers. The English plural 'antennas' is common in everyday and non-specialist contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The antenna of the beetle are very long.
✅The antennas of the beetle are very long.
💡'antennas' is the plural form; the singular is 'antenna.'
❌Insects use their antenna to smell food.
✅Insects use their antennas to smell food.
💡always use the plural form when referring to the pair as a whole.

2. The power to pick up on subtle signals in a situation and understand their meani

2.名詞C1
釋義

The power to pick up on subtle signals in a situation and understand their meaning, almost like having an extra sense that most people lack — for example, a journalist who can tell which stories will matter most before the news breaks.

例句

As a journalist, Hana has sharp political antennas that help her find major stories first.

sharp political antennas — figurative collocation

Parents often develop good antennas for knowing when their child is hiding something from them.

good antennas for + gerund

同義詞
  • instinct

    broader and more general; refers to inborn behavior, not just perception

  • intuition

    focuses on knowing something without reasoning; less about active noticing

  • radar

    informal slang; suggests a constant, automatic awareness (e.g., 'gossip radar')

反義詞
  • obliviousness

    the quality of being unaware of what is happening around you

文法句型

[adjective] + antennas

antennas for + [thing]

用法筆記

Always plural in this figurative sense — used similarly to 'instincts' or 'radar.' Frequently paired with an adjective that names the domain (political, social, business, creative).

常見錯誤

❌She has a good antenna for business.
✅She has good antennas for business.
💡this abstract sense is always plural, even when referring to one person's ability.

3. A metal rod, wire, or similar device that radiates or picks up broadcast signals

3.名詞B2
釋義

A metal rod, wire, or similar device that radiates or picks up broadcast signals.

例句

Sofia climbed onto the roof to adjust the television antennas after the heavy storm.

adjust the television antennas — common action

Radio antennas on the hill broadcast signals across the whole valley for miles around.

同義詞
  • aerial

    common in British English for the same device; interchangeable in UK contexts

  • receiver

    broader term; refers to any device that picks up signals, not just rod-shaped ones

  • transmitter

    specifically for sending signals, not receiving; antennas can do both

文法句型

antenna + on + [location]

antenna for + [purpose]

常見錯誤

❌I need to fix the antennas on my roof.' (when meaning one)
✅I need to fix the antenna on my roof.
💡use singular 'antenna' for one device; 'antennas' is the plural.
❌This radio antennae is broken.
✅This radio antenna is broken.
💡'antennae' is a biological plural; for electronic devices the plural is always 'antennas.'