/ ænˈtenə; NAmE / noun
1.
( pl. an·ten·nae / -niː; NAmE /) either of the two long thin parts on the heads of some insects and some animals that live in shells, used to feel and touch things with
SYN feeler : ( figurative )
The minister was praised for his acute political antennae (= ability to understand complicated political situations) .
—picture at prawn
2.
( pl. an·ten·nas or an·ten·nae ) ( especially NAmE ) = aerial :
radio antennas
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin , alteration of antemna yard (of a ship), used in the plural to translate Greek keraioi horns (of insects), used by Aristotle.