1. A radio or electronic signal produced by combining two different frequencies to create a new frequency, typically used in radio receivers and transmitters.
Usage: technical; electronics

1. To combine two alternating currents or radio signals of different frequencies to produce a new frequency.
Usage: technical; electronics

Examples

• The radio receiver uses heterodynes to convert incoming signals to an intermediate frequency.
• Engineers heterodyne the carrier wave with a local oscillator signal.
• Modern superheterodyne receivers heterodyne incoming signals multiple times for better selectivity.
• The heterodynes produced by the mixer circuit are filtered to extract the desired frequency.
• To heterodyne two signals, you multiply them together using a nonlinear device.