coherer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (extremely rare, specialist historical term)Technical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “coherer” mean?
A primitive device for detecting radio waves, used in early wireless telegraphy, consisting of a tube filled with loosely packed conductive particles that 'cohere' (stick together) when a radio-frequency signal is applied.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A primitive device for detecting radio waves, used in early wireless telegraphy, consisting of a tube filled with loosely packed conductive particles that 'cohere' (stick together) when a radio-frequency signal is applied.
Historically, the first practical detector for radio waves, making early wireless communication possible. It is sometimes used metaphorically or in historical/technical contexts to refer to any system where elements suddenly connect or unite in response to a stimulus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the same historical term.
Connotations
Historical, obsolete, foundational to radio technology.
Frequency
Equally rare and obsolete in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “coherer” in a Sentence
The coherer was used to [detect/sense/receive]A coherer consists of [metal filings/a tube and electrodes]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in historical accounts of physics, electrical engineering, and communication technology.
Everyday
Virtually unknown.
Technical
The only context. Refers to a specific, obsolete component in the history of radio.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coherer”
- Misspelling as 'cohere-er', 'cohérer'.
- Confusing it with the verb 'cohere'.
- Using it to describe modern technology.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is completely obsolete. It was superseded by crystal detectors and then vacuum tubes over a century ago.
It comes from the verb 'cohere' meaning 'to stick together'. The device worked because its metal particles would cohere (clump together) when a radio signal was applied, becoming conductive.
It is most famously associated with Édouard Branly (the 'Branly coherer') and was later used and improved by Guglielmo Marconi in his pioneering radio experiments.
It is not important for general English. It is only relevant for specialists in the history of technology or readers of very specific historical texts.
A primitive device for detecting radio waves, used in early wireless telegraphy, consisting of a tube filled with loosely packed conductive particles that 'cohere' (stick together) when a radio-frequency signal is applied.
Coherer is usually technical/historical in register.
Coherer: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈhɪərə/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈhɪrər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is purely technical and not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a herd (sounds like 'herer') of metal particles suddenly COming togetHER to HEAR a signal. Co-HER-er.
Conceptual Metaphor
Unity in response to a call. From a state of chaos/disconnection to one of connection/order.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary function of a coherer?