tickler coil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
SpecializedTechnical
Quick answer
What does “tickler coil” mean?
A small coil used in a regenerative radio receiver to provide feedback that amplifies the signal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small coil used in a regenerative radio receiver to provide feedback that amplifies the signal.
Historically employed in early radio technology, it enhances reception by electromagnetically coupling part of the output signal back into the input circuit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with vintage radio technology and early electrical engineering.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, used mainly in technical histories, antique radio discussions, or niche hobbies.
Grammar
How to Use “tickler coil” in a Sentence
use in a regenerative circuitconnect to a detector stageadjust for optimal feedbackVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tickler coil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He needed to coil the wire tightly around the ferrite core.
American English
- She coiled the cable neatly after the experiment.
adjective
British English
- The tickler mechanism in the old radio was quite sensitive.
American English
- This tickler file helps manage pending tasks efficiently.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in contexts involving antique electronics sales or restoration services.
Academic
Found in historical studies of radio technology, electrical engineering textbooks, or papers on early communication devices.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation; unfamiliar to most general speakers.
Technical
Common in descriptions of regenerative radio receivers, vintage circuit diagrams, and amateur radio enthusiast discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tickler coil”
- Mispronouncing as 'ticker coil' due to spelling similarity.
- Using it interchangeably with any coil in a radio, rather than specifically for feedback in regenerative circuits.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used in regenerative radio receivers to provide positive feedback, which amplifies incoming signals and improves reception.
No, it is largely obsolete and primarily of interest in historical contexts, antique radio restoration, or hobbyist projects.
By electromagnetically coupling with the main coil, it reintroduces a portion of the output signal to the input, creating regeneration that amplifies weak signals.
No, 'tickler coil' is specific to electronics; however, 'tickler' alone can refer to reminder systems or playful stimuli in other contexts.
A small coil used in a regenerative radio receiver to provide feedback that amplifies the signal.
Tickler coil is usually technical in register.
Tickler coil: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɪklə kɔɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɪklər kɔɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the coil 'tickling' the electrical signal to make it stronger, similar to how tickling someone can stimulate a reaction.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEEDBACK IS TICKLING; the coil gently stimulates the signal to enhance amplification.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary role of a tickler coil in electronics?