Definition
A device that converts digital data from a computer into analog signals for transmission over telephone or cable lines, and reconverts incoming analog signals back into digital data. The term is a portmanteau of 'modulator-demodulator.'
Example Usage
The internet went out because my modem lost its connection to the ISP.
Origin
Acronym formed from 'modulator-demodulator'; term emerged in the 1960s with early computer networking.
Fun Fact
The distinctive screech and chirp sounds of dial-up modems connecting became an iconic sound of 1990s internet culture.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Modem” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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