Definition

Noun: An early, simple type of radio receiver that uses a crystal detector to convert radio waves into audio signals without the need for an external power source or electronic amplification.

Usage

A crystal set is a historical term for a basic, unpowered radio receiver. * My grandfather told me stories about building a crystal set as a boy to listen to distant stations. * The simplicity of a crystal set makes it a popular educational project for learning the fundamentals of radio technology. * Before modern transistor radios, the crystal set was a common way for people to receive broadcast signals.

Advanced Usage

• As a historical artifact: The term is often used in discussions about the history of technology and telecommunications.
  • The museum's exhibit on early electronics features a working crystal set from the 1920s.
• In technical descriptions: It specifies the detector type and the lack of amplification.
  • The circuit diagram for a basic crystal set includes a tuned coil, a variable capacitor, a crystal detector, and a high-impedance earphone.

Variants and Related Words

• Crystal radio: A more common modern synonym for "crystal set."
• Cat's whisker receiver: An informal, descriptive name for a crystal set, referring to the thin wire (the "whisker") that contacts the crystal.
• Detector: The component (often a mineral crystal like galena) that rectifies the radio signal.
• Tuned circuit: The part of the receiver (coil and capacitor) that selects the desired radio frequency.

Synonyms

• Crystal radio
• Cat's whisker radio

Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• AM radio: The amplitude modulation broadcast band that crystal sets were designed to receive.
• Foxhole radio: An improvised crystal radio made by soldiers, often using a razor blade as the detector.
• Passive receiver: A technical term for any receiver that operates without a power source, like a crystal set.

Noun

1. an early radio receiver using a crystal detector