emitter
UK[ɪˈmɪtə]US[ɪˈmɪtər]
n
a device or object that sends out a signal, light, or other form of energy.
n
a source that discharges something, such as particles or gases, into the environment.
Morpheme Breakdown
e
mit
er
e
out
mit
send
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'emitter' is built upon the latin verb 'emittere', which itself is a compound of 'e-' (a variant of 'ex-', meaning 'out') and 'mittere' (meaning 'to send'). The literal sense is 'to send out'. This verb entered english in the late 16th century. The agent noun 'emitter' was formed in english by appending the native agent suffix '-er' to the latin root, following a common pattern of hybrid word formation. It originally described a person who issues or puts forth something, but its primary modern usage has shifted to technical contexts, denoting a device or source that sends out signals, particles, or energy.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + mit (send) + er (agent suffix)
- e: a prefix of latin origin, a variant of 'ex-', meaning 'out' or 'forth'.
- mit: a root of latin origin, from the verb 'mittere', meaning 'to send'.
- er: a suffix of old english origin, used to form agent nouns indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
the infrared emitter on the remote control sends signals to the television.
the factory was identified as a major emitter of greenhouse gases.
in electronics, the emitter is a key terminal in a bipolar junction transistor.