Main Entry:

an·ten·na

Pronunciation:

\an-ˈte-nə\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural an·ten·nae \-(ˌ)nē\ or an·ten·nas

Etymology:

Medieval Latin, from Latin, sail yard

Date:

1646

1plural an·ten·nae : one of a pair of slender movable segmented sensory organs on the head of insects, myriapods, and crustaceans — see insect illustration2: a usually metallic device (as a rod or wire) for radiating or receiving radio waves3antennae plural : a special sensitivity or receptiveness <his political antennae proved to be shrewder than ever — Erich Segal>

— an·ten·nal \-ˈte-n^əl\ adjective