different between unidirectional vs omnidirectional

English

Etymology

From uni- +? directional.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?ju?n?d????k??n?l/, /-da?-/, /-???k??nl?/, /-???k?n?l/
• (General American) enPR: yo?o'n?-d?-r?k?sh?n-(?)l, -d?-, -r?k?shn?l, IPA^(key): /?jun??d?????k??n?l/, /-da?-/, /-???k??nl?/, /-???k?n?l/
• Rhymes: -?k??n?l, -?k?n?l
• Hyphenation: uni?di?rec?tion?al

Adjective

unidirectional (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to only one direction, e.g.: where all component parts are aligned in the same direction in space.

Antonyms

• bidirectional

Translations

See also

• omnidirectional

Noun

unidirectional (plural unidirectionals)

1. A fabric in which the majority of fibers run in the same single direction.

English

Etymology

omni- +? directional

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: om?ni?dir?ec?tion?al

Adjective

omnidirectional (not comparable)

1. In every direction, especially of a radio system capable of transmitting or receiving signals in all directions, or of a microphone capable of detecting sound from all directions.

   An omnidirectional radio beacon.

2. (physics, electrical engineering) Having a ring-shaped radiation pattern, with equal radiation in all azimuthal directions.
   • 2004, Harold Davis, Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking, Que Publishing ?ISBN, page 227

     The radiation pattern of an omnidirectional antenna looks like a doughnut, with the antenna in the center of the doughnut, as depicted in Figure 17.1.

Usage notes

Because true omnidirectionality is impossible for individual antennas, omnidirectional is generally used in electrical engineering contexts to refer to antennas that can receive signals in all directions in the azimuthal plane. In these contexts, a hypothetical antenna that radiates in all directions equally is called isotropic.

Antonyms

• unidirectional

Translations

See also

• isotropic

References