demodulate

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ˌdɛm.əˈdʒuː.leɪt/

KK: /dɛˈmoʊdʒʊˌleɪt/

transitive verb

Definition

To take information from a signal that has been changed in a way to carry that information, usually in communication systems.

Example

The engineer had to demodulate the signal to retrieve the original audio message.

Tense Forms

Past: demodulated

Past Participle: demodulated

Conversation

Have you ever tried to demodulate a radio signal?

I haven't, but it sounds really interesting!

Yeah, it's all about extracting the sound from the wave.

That makes sense! I should look into how it's done.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

decode

extract

retrieve

Antonyms

modulate

encode

transmit

Root Explanation

Demodulate → It is formed from "de-" (meaning down or away) and "modulatus" (from Latin, meaning to measure or adjust). The word "demodulate" means to remove modulation from a signal, effectively adjusting it back to its original form.

Memory Tip

Think of 'removing' ('de-') the 'adjustment' ('modulatus') from a signal to understand that demodulate means to revert a signal to its original state.

Visually Confused Words