two-mode theory
nounUK /tuː məʊd ˈθɪəri/
US /tuː moʊd ˈθɪri/
A two-mode theory says that something works in two different ways.
The two-mode theory explains how our eyes see in bright light and in the dark.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A psychology idea that thinking happens in two ways: fast and automatic, or slow and careful.
The two-mode theory of thinking says we sometimes act on quick feelings and sometimes stop to think.
3. A physics idea that light can act like both a wave and a particle.
The two-mode theory of light helps scientists describe how light travels and how it hits things.
4. A design idea that a device can run in two different settings or states.
The phone's two-mode theory lets it switch between a normal mode and a battery-saving mode.