an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
"The old TV station had to install a new antenna on the roof because viewers were losing their signal during storms."
A feeler organ on the head of an insect, crab, or other animal.
"The curious ant tapped its antenna against my leg to investigate what I was holding."
In plain English: An antenna is a metal rod or wire that sends and receives radio signals for devices like cell phones and TVs.
"The old radio needs an antenna to receive clear signals."
Usage: Use antenna to describe the single feeler found on insects like crickets or lobsters, while using antennae for the paired feelers on animals such as spiders or beetles. This distinction relies on singular versus plural forms rather than changing the base word itself.
The word "antenna" comes from the Latin antenna, which originally meant a yard or sailyard on a ship. It entered English at the end of the 17th century, evolving from its nautical roots to describe radio receiving devices.