From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishradiora‧di‧o1 /ˈreɪdiəʊ $ -dioʊ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 a) [countable]TCB a piece of electronic equipment which you use to listen to programmes that are broadcast, such as music and newsturn/switch the radio on/off I sat down and turned on the radio. b) [uncountable]AMT programmes that are broadcast on the radio I don’t really listen to the radio very much.on the radio Did you hear the interview with the prime minister on the radio this morning?radio programme/show He’s got his own radio show now.local/national radio She works for a local radio station.2 a) [countable]TCB a piece of electronic equipment, for example on a plane or ship, which can send and receive spoken messagesover the radio We received a call for help over the ship’s radio. b) [uncountable]TCB when messages are sent or received in this wayby radio We should be able to reach them by radio. We’ve lost radio contact with the plane.COLLOCATIONSverbslisten to the radioShe was sitting up in bed, listening to the radio.hear something on the radioI heard on the radio that the weather was going to get warmer.turn/switch the radio onDad switched on the radio for the eight-thirty news.turn/switch the radio offYou can turn the radio off, darling, we're not listening to it.turn the radio down/up (=make it quieter or louder)Can you turn your radio down a bit?tune a radio to a station (=make it receive broadcasts from a particular station)The radio was tuned to a country-music station.adjectiveslocal radioJobs may be advertised in local newspapers or on local radio.national radioHe even went on national radio to defend himself and his players.state radio (=controlled by the government of a country)In a message read on state radio and television, the president called for calm. radio + NOUNa radio programme/showIt's my favourite radio programme.a radio station (=an organization that broadcasts radio programmes)There are currently nearly 50 commercial radio stations.a radio broadcastAll radio broadcasts continue to be closely monitored by the government. Grammar• You listen to the radio: I often listen to the radio in my car. ✗Don’t say: listen to radio • You say that someone or something is on the radio: My mother heard the news on the radio. ✗Don’t say: on radio
Examples from the Corpus
radio• Do you have a radio in your car?• However, there are some occasions when sending a photograph to a radio station is not such a bad idea.• a radio personality• We had to fight to make our way through as rifles, packs and radio aerials snagged on bushes and branches.• The gin palaces are out, polished brass, blaring radios and peaked hats, and they don't care.• Maxwell, host of a weekend gospel hour on a Compton radio station, was jubilant.• Madden has a daily radio show on KSFO.• The story was written specially for radio.• We've lost radio contact.• The 15-minute radio program is wonderfully old-fashioned.• I'm going to buy a new radio for the car.• We encourage more use of radio in the public interest.• Rush Limbaugh is one of the biggest names in talk radio.• Here you simply ensure that the mechanical linkage will give more than sufficient control and then adjust the radio transmitter in suit.• I've often heard that song on the radio, but I can't think what it's called.• In the evening I usually watch TV or listen to the radio.• They also found a piece of paper with the radio frequencies used by police locally and nationally, said Mr Cornwall.• Unlike radio, the anchor / readers do not have to be in eye contact with the control room.• Can you turn your radio down a little bit?turn/switch the radio on/off• I'd put a tape on and turn the radio off.• Erch switched the radio off and resumed his washing and polishing.• He switched the radio on and they drifted through the night together, flying over the miles to London.• He switched the radio on, just for the company of voices.• I couldn't, even with my mistress, be seen reading their newspapers or turn the radio on.• When taking part in a PHONE-IN programme, turn the radio off.• Tom turned the radio on to a station that played dance music.over the radio• Sometimes you can give useful medical advice over the radio.• Much important political or national news is likely to be announced over the radio.• Back at Cu Chi, Colonel Otis was monitoring the battle over the radio.• I had the brigade commander over-head offering me encouragement over the radio.• Then, when he was completely satisfied, he spoke to Hal over the radio circuit.• I heard it over the radio a few minutes ago and I cried.• We rendezvous every morning near Blackfriars Bridge and get the first jobs over the radio.• And while they were up there in the wide, blue yonder, they jabbered non-stop to each other over the radio.radioradio2 verb [intransitive, transitive] TCBto send a message using a radioradio for The ship radioed for help.radio somebody for something We radioed London for permission to land.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
radio• But on this night, the Cali controller radioed different instructions to Flight 965.• She radioed down to her senior keeper who called the vet.• When he couldn't manage that either, he radioed for assistance.• They radioed for help and were rescued by the Isle of Man lifeboat.• Two officers radioed his warning to control.• I urgently radioed the information back to headquarters.radio-radio- /reɪdiəʊ $ -dioʊ/ prefix technical using radio waves radiopaging (=calling people by radio)Examples from the Corpus
radio-• a radiogram• a radiometer• radioactive elements• radiographyOrigin radio- French Latin radius; → RADIUS radio1 (1900-2000) radiotelegraphy ((19-21 centuries)), from radio- + telegraphy 