Baluns

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A device used to convert between balanced and unbalanced electrical signals in radio and telecommunications
2. A transformer that facilitates the connection of different impedance systems to optimize signal transmission
3. An essential component in antenna systems for efficient performance, enabling compatibility between equipment types

Etymology: "Baluns" is the plural of "balun," a term for a device that converts between a balanced signal (carried on two conductors, each with equal and opposite voltage) and an unbalanced one (carried on a single conductor referenced to ground). The word is a clipping of "balanced–unbalanced," the two signal types it connects, and it follows the same pattern as "modem," which fuses "modulator" and "demodulator" into one term. The plural simply adds the regular "-s" to the singular, so the word's story is entirely in its singular form. Engineers in antenna and radio work use the plural when referring to more than one such device in a system, such as several baluns feeding different antennas on a single site.