/ ˈreɪdiəʊ; NAmE -oʊ/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(often the radio ) [ U , sing. ] the activity of broadcasting programmes for people to listen to; the programmes that are broadcast :
The interview was broadcast on radio and television.
The play was written specially for radio.
I listen to the radio on the way to work.
Did you hear the interview with him on the radio ?
local / national radio
a radio programme / station
2.
[ C ] a piece of equipment used for listening to programmes that are broadcast to the public :
to turn the radio on / off
a car radio
a radio cassette player
—see also clock radio
3.
[ U ] the process of sending and receiving messages through the air using electromagnetic waves :
He was unable to contact Blake by radio .
to keep in radio contact
radio signals / waves
4.
[ C ] a piece of equipment, for example on ships or planes, for sending and receiving radio signals :
to hear a gale warning on / over the ship's radio
■ verb
( ra·dio·ing , ra·dioed , ra·dioed ) to send a message to sb by radio :
[ v ]
The police officer radioed for help.
[ vn ]
The warning was radioed to headquarters.
[also v that , vn that , vn to inf ]
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent.: abbreviation of radio-telephony .