communication

[kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.

2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

3. something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.

4. a document or message imparting news, views, information, etc.

5. passage, or an opportunity or means of passage, between places.

6. communications,

   1. means of sending messages, orders, etc., including telephone, telegraph, radio, and television.

   2. routes and transportation for moving troops and supplies from a base to an area of operations.

7. Biology.

   1. activity by one organism that changes or has the potential to change the behavior of other organisms.

   2. transfer of information from one cell or molecule to another, as by chemical or electrical signals.

communication

/ kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of communicating; the imparting or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings

2. something communicated, such as a message, letter, or telephone call

3. 1. (usually plural; sometimes functioning as singular) the study of ways in which human beings communicate, including speech, gesture, telecommunication systems, publishing and broadcasting media, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      communication theory

4. a connecting route, passage, or link

5. (plural) military the system of routes and facilities by which forces, supplies, etc, are moved up to or within an area of operations

Other Word Forms

• communicational adjective
• noncommunication noun
• overcommunication noun
• precommunication noun
• self-communication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of communication¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English communicacioun, from Middle French, from Latin commūnicātiōn-, stem of commūnicātiō, equivalent to commūnicāt(us) ( communicate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Israel does not allow international journalists independent access to Gaza, so much of the BBC's communication with people there over the past two years has been over messages and phone calls.

Read more on BBC

The prosecutor continued: "Their plans were laid bare through their communication with Farouk and, as a result, the police were able to stop those plans from becoming a tragic reality."

Read more on BBC

"We want to see Swahili become a language of communication, trade and learning - even replacing English during our next conference," he said at the EAC gathering.

Read more on BBC

By placing nanodiamonds into specially designed hybrid nanoantennas with extreme precision, the team achieved record photon collection at room temperature -- a necessary step for quantum technologies such as quantum sensors, and quantum-secured communications.

Read more on Science Daily

This time around, professional contractors would shoot the island’s estimated 2,165 deer on the ground with rifles, said Pepe Barton, communications director for the conservancy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• connection 
• contact 
• conversation 
• delivery 
• intelligence 
• link 
• transmission