cat whisker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “cat whisker” mean?
One of the long, stiff hairs growing around a cat's mouth, used for sensory purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of the long, stiff hairs growing around a cat's mouth, used for sensory purposes.
Any slender, sensitive probe or wire; historically, a thin wire used in early crystal radio detectors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the literal sense. The technical 'cat's whisker' (radio component) uses the possessive form more consistently in British English ('cat's-whisker detector').
Connotations
Literal sense: neutral/descriptive. Technical sense: archaic, nostalgic for radio enthusiasts.
Frequency
The literal term is low-frequency but understood. The technical term is obsolete and rarely used outside historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cat whisker” in a Sentence
The cat's whisker brushed [against OBJECT]A [ADJECTIVE] cat whiskerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology/biology texts discussing feline sensory systems.
Everyday
Used by pet owners or in general descriptions of cats.
Technical
Historical use in early electronics (crystal radio detectors).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cat whisker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat whisker”
- Misspelling as 'catswhisker' or 'cat's whiskers' (the latter is an idiom meaning 'excellent').
- Using plural 'whiskers' when referring to the singular component in historical radio.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two words (cat whisker) for the literal meaning. The historical electronic component is often hyphenated (cat's-whisker).
No, it is specific to cats. For similar hairs on other animals (e.g., rats, seals), the zoological term 'vibrissae' is used.
It was named for its physical resemblance—a thin, flexible wire that lightly touched a crystal, analogous to a cat's delicate, exploratory whisker.
It means winning or succeeding by an extremely small margin, emphasizing the narrowness of the victory.
One of the long, stiff hairs growing around a cat's mouth, used for sensory purposes.
Cat whisker is usually informal, technical in register.
Cat whisker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkat ˌwɪskə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæt ˌhwɪskər/ or /ˈkæt ˌwɪskər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “By a cat's whisker (meaning: by a very narrow margin)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cat using its WHISKERS to WHISPER past obstacles in the dark.
Conceptual Metaphor
SENSITIVITY IS A TACTILE PROBE ('He has the sensitivity of a cat whisker').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, non-literal meaning of 'cat whisker' in a technical context?