[′bärk‚hau̇z·ən ¦kərts ′äs·ə‚lād·ər] (electronics) An oscillator of the retarding-field type in which the frequency of oscillation depends solely on the transit time of electrons oscillating about a highly positive grid before reaching the less positive anode. Also known as Barkhausen oscillator; positive-grid oscillator.AcronymsSeeBKO