träger

Träger is a German noun meaning carrier or bearer. It denotes something or someone that carries, holds, or supports another object, either in a physical sense or more abstractly. The word derives from tragen, “to carry.” The singular and plural forms are der Träger and die Träger, with the plural spelled the same as the singular, requiring context to distinguish meaning.

In engineering and architecture, Träger refers to a structural element that spans between supports and carries loads, such as a beam or girder. Steel, concrete, or timber Träger form the main framework of buildings, bridges, and roofs, distributing weight to columns or walls.

In biology and medicine, a Träger is a person or organism that harbors a pathogen or a genetic trait without necessarily showing symptoms. A disease carrier may transmit the agent to others. In genetics, a Träger of a recessive gene can pass that gene to offspring, even if the individual is not affected.

In telecommunications, Träger denotes a carrier wave or carrier frequency that modulates an information signal. The term appears in phrases like Trägerfrequenz and Trägersignal, which are central to modulation schemes in radio, television, and data transmission.

In public administration and health care, Träger can describe an organization that bears responsibility for delivering services or for financing them on behalf of authorities or insurers. Examples include care providers or “Kostenträger,” which fund and administer welfare and health services.

Overall, Träger is a versatile term used across engineering, medicine, communications, and social administration to denote the entity that carries, bears, or enables a function.