wireless
wireless — adjective
1. describes devices or systems that use radio signals instead of physical cables o
describes devices or systems that use radio signals instead of physical cables or wires to send and receive data
Caio bought a pair of wireless headphones for his morning runs.
collocation: wireless headphones
The museum offers free wireless internet to all its visitors.
collocation: wireless internet
Wireless charging pads work with most modern smartphones on the market.
Kemi connected her laptop to the wireless printer in the school library.
Sahil installed a wireless security camera above the front door of his flat.
- cordless
usually refers to devices that run on a battery within a short range of a base station, like a cordless phone or drill
- radio-based
more technical; used when emphasising the transmission medium rather than the absence of wires
常見錯誤
wireless — noun
1. a piece of electronic equipment that receives sound broadcasts transmitted throu
a piece of electronic equipment that receives sound broadcasts transmitted through the air, now considered somewhat old-fashioned
My grandmother still listens to the news on the wireless every evening.
dated register: on the wireless
Henrik found an old wooden wireless in the attic that belonged to his great-grandfather.
countable noun with indefinite article
During the war, families gathered around the wireless for the evening broadcast.
Sirin switched on the wireless and heard a jazz song from the 1940s.
用法筆記
Dated sense, used mainly by older speakers in British English. In modern American English the word 'radio' is almost always used instead.
常見錯誤
2. a way of connecting computers and other devices to the Internet or to each other
a way of connecting computers and other devices to the Internet or to each other using radio signals instead of cables, often used informally to mean a Wi-Fi connection
The cafe has free wireless, so students often study there with their laptops.
uncountable: 'free wireless'
Cyrus reset the router to fix the slow wireless connection throughout the house.
Joon asked the hotel staff for the wireless password at the front desk.
The conference room offers high-speed wireless for up to fifty guests.
Adina's phone automatically connects to the wireless when she walks into the office.
- Wi-Fi
used interchangeably in casual speech, though Wi-Fi is a specific brand/standard of wireless networking
- Wi-Fi connection
more precise; specifies that the wireless uses the Wi-Fi protocol
- broadband
refers to a high-speed Internet connection, which may be wired or wireless
- wired connection
a connection that uses Ethernet cables rather than radio signals
- dial-up
an older, slower form of Internet access that uses telephone lines
用法筆記
Often used interchangeably with 'Wi-Fi' in everyday conversation, though technically Wi-Fi is a specific type of wireless networking standard.