Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Communicator \Com*mu"ni*ca`tor\, n. [L.]
One who communicates.
--Boyle.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1660s, from Latin communicator, agent noun from communicare (see communication).
Wiktionary
n. 1 Someone who, or something that communicates 2 Any of several electronic devices that allow people with various disability to communicate via displays or artificial speech
WordNet
n. a person who communicates with others
Wikipedia
The communicator is a fictional device used for voice communication in the fictional universe of Star Trek.
In at least two instances, those of the Original Series episodes " Tomorrow Is Yesterday" and " Day of the Dove," it can also serve as an emergency-signaling device/beacon, similar to a transponder. The communicator allows direct contact between individuals or via a ship's communication system.
The communicator in the Star Trek universe surpasses the capabilities of modern mobile phone technology, the prototypes of whose design it foreran. It allows crew members to contact starships in orbit without relying on an artificial satellite to relay the signal. Communicators use subspace transmissions that do not conform to normal rules of physics in that signals can bypass EM interference, and the devices allow nearly instantaneous communication at distances that would otherwise require more time to traverse.
In Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), communicators functioned as a plot device, stranding characters in challenging situations when they malfunctioned, were lost or stolen, or went out of range. (Otherwise, the transporter could have allowed characters to return to the ship at the first sign of trouble, ending the storyline prematurely.)
Communicator may refer to:
In computer science:
- Acorn Communicator, a business computer developed by Acorn Computers in 1985
- Beonex Communicator, a separate branch of the Mozilla Application Suite
- Netscape Communicator, a suite of Internet applications
- Nokia Communicator, a brand name for a series of Nokia smartphones
- PDA with mobile phone functionality, also known as smartphone, such as Nokia Communicator mentioned above
- LIVECHAT Communicator, a business instant messenger software
- Microsoft Office Communicator, an IM and VoIP client for Windows
In fiction:
- Communicator (Star Trek), a portable communication device from the Star Trek fictional universe
- Communicator, another term for universal translator, a fictional device that allows one to understand a language from another planet or an animal
Usage examples of "communicator".
Closer to Claus, in a big chair pulled up to the big communicator cabinet, slouched Ino Vacroux, senior scientist of the base.
Kirk stop, kicked at the deactivation switch to shut off the communicator.
Valia and Dunker coming up behind him, started to say something, shook his head, slid into the car, and turned on the communicator.
Rish frowned, glanced back at Valia and Dunker coming up behind him, started to say something, shook his head, slid into the car, and turned on the communicator.
Het Masteen stood at the locus of a circle of organic control diskeys -- displays from the fiber-optic nerves running throughout the ship, holo displays from onboard, astern, and ahead of the treeship, a communicator nexus to put him in touch with the Templars standing duty with the ergs, in the singularity containment core, at the drive roots, and elsewhere, and the central holo-simulacrum of the treeship itself, which he could touch with his long fingers to call up interactives or change headings.
He cut the communicator off for a moment and spoke exultantly to his men.
The distressed, insistent voice of the orderly hummed through the communicator.
She strolled beyond the rails, followed by a fascinated Edna, and consulted her communicator as an amplified voice reverberated in the huge room.
He sat down at the desk by the communicator and pulled out slates as he continued talking.
The penile tongues insert in the inner corners of the eyes and convey the tiny machines, along with the growth factors, around and through the protective membranes, directly to the communicator.
He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a handful of communicator badges, which he set reverently on the moist earth.
He broke off as her communicator beeped again, signalling the authorization.
We have read your reports, along with the comments and opinions of your communicators and those Elders who were assisting in your studies.
May I suggest that we at least arrange for all future communications from this Thrr-gilag to be routed through our communicators here at the complex?
He took their ultrasophisticated digital encryption algorithms, with complementary hardware and software, to the master communicators at the Pentagon, the Defense Communications Agency, the National Security Agency, and the White House Communications Agency.