multi-modeadj.n.
/ˈmʌltɪməʊd/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈmoʊd/; see also multi- comb. form. A. adj.
a. Capable of operating in more than one mode; characterized by several different modes of activity or execution (cf. multimodal adj.); (Physics) capable of or characterized by more than one mode of oscillation or excitation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > [adjective] > specific modes of action or operation > having many modes of action
multimodal1928
multi-mode1961
1961 Bell Syst. Techn. Jrnl. 40 489 (title) Confocal multimode resonator for millimeter through optical wavelength masers.
1968 Sun (Baltimore) 4 July a16/3 The notes of one conference we attended a few weeks ago..show that speakers were using such terms (not easily translated) as..multi-mode curriculum.
1991 Compute Nov. 28/2 The Oak Technology video BIOS is multimode, providing EGA, CGA, MDA, and Hercules graphic modes in addition to VGA.
1999 South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) 12 Oct. 19/3 The other big issue..was so-called multi-mode transport, which is jargon for getting a bus or driving to a station, and then hopping on to a train or the MTR.
b. Photography. Designating an SLR camera or its light meter with more than one way of setting the exposure (such as manual, shutter speed priority, or aperture priority). Cf. multiprogramme adj. 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > camera > [adjective] > types of camera
pinhole1861
twin-lens1894
reflex1907
autofocus1917
miniature1921
autofocusing1922
wide-field1925
beam-splitting1935
point-and-shoot1964
subminiature1968
multi-mode1980
multiprogramme1990
1980 M. Langford SLR Handbk. 90/4 Multimode meter..offers a choice of four or five programmes for exposure measurement, including aperture priority, shutter speed priority, and manual.
1991 Photo Answers May 63/2 Most of the multi-mode SLRs have a manual mode on them.
B. n.
A multimode camera.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > camera > [noun] > general types of
box camera1828
daguerreotype1839
view camera1851
pistolgraph1859
pinhole camera1861
panoramic camera1862
pantoscopic camera1865
pistolograph1866
pantoscope1879
detective camera1881
filmograph1881
photographometera1884
photochronograph1887
snap-shooter1890
stand camera1890
tele-objective camera1891
film camera1893
magazine camera1893
panoram1893
telephoto1894
mutograph1897
tele-camera1899
telephote1903
press camera1912
reflex1922
candid camera1929
minicam1935
single-lens reflex1936
plate camera1937
magic eye1938
subminiature1947
miniature1952
all-sky camera1955
microfilmer1959
stereo-camera1959
streak camera1962
gallery camera1964
SLR1964
TLR1965
spy-camera1968
pinhole1976
multi-mode1981
digicam1989
point-and-shoot1991
1981 What Camera Weekly 15 Aug. 45/1 Mamiya have a multi-mode in the offing.
1987 Which? July 334 A multi-mode with three programmed exposure options.
Compounds
multimode fibre n. an optical fibre which has a diameter large enough to allow several modes of transmission of the light transmitted through it.
ΚΠ
1971 Electronics Let. 7 549/2 The high attenuation in the present fibers probably discriminates against higher-order modes, resulting in the small amount of pulse spreading observed, and corresponding low-loss multimode fibres may be more dispersive.
1996 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 354 1869 Fibres of the type used in optical communication systems (e.g. step-index multimode fibres) are now embedded within a structure during fabrication.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1961