crystal detector: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
very lowtechnical, historical
Quick answer
What does “crystal detector” mean?
A primitive early radio component used to demodulate amplitude modulated (AM) radio signals, consisting of a mineral crystal contacted by a thin metal wire (cat's whisker).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A primitive early radio component used to demodulate amplitude modulated (AM) radio signals, consisting of a mineral crystal contacted by a thin metal wire (cat's whisker).
Historically significant as the first type of semiconductor diode; by extension, can refer to any detector or sensor utilising a crystalline material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The term is identically technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes early 20th-century innovation, amateur radio, and historical scientific apparatus.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary general use, but appears with equal low frequency in specialised historical or technical texts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “crystal detector” in a Sentence
[crystal detector] + of + [material] (e.g., detector of galena)[verb] + the + [crystal detector] (e.g., adjust the crystal detector)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in contemporary business contexts.
Academic
Used in history of science, history of technology, and early electrical engineering texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in technical writing and discussion about early radio technology, semiconductor history, and antique radio restoration.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crystal detector”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crystal detector”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crystal detector”
- Using it to refer to any modern crystal-based sensor (e.g., quartz oscillator).
- Confusing it with a 'crystal radio', which is the complete receiver using a crystal detector.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common materials included galena (lead sulfide), silicon, carborundum, and iron pyrite. Galena was particularly popular.
The name comes from the thin, springy wire (the 'whisker') that made a delicate point contact with the surface of the crystal to form a rectifying junction.
No, it is obsolete. It was replaced by more reliable and efficient vacuum tube diodes and later by modern semiconductor diodes (e.g., germanium or silicon diodes).
A crystal detector required manual adjustment of a point contact on a natural crystal, making it unstable and unreliable. Modern diodes are manufactured as stable, encapsulated semiconductor devices with consistent electrical characteristics.
A primitive early radio component used to demodulate amplitude modulated (AM) radio signals, consisting of a mineral crystal contacted by a thin metal wire (cat's whisker).
Crystal detector is usually technical, historical in register.
Crystal detector: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪstl dɪˈtektə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪstəl dɪˈtektər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clear CRYSTAL ball that DETECTS old-time radio waves, with a thin 'whisker' touching it to hear the sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary function of a crystal detector in early radios?