channel

[ chan-l ]

/ ˈtʃæn l /

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See synonyms for: channel / channeling / channelled / channelling on Thesaurus.com

noun

the bed of a stream, river, or other waterway.

Nautical. a navigable route between two bodies of water.

the deeper part of a waterway.

a wide strait, as between a continent and an island.

a course into which something may be directed: He hoped to direct the conversation to a new channel.

a route through which anything passes or progresses: channels of trade.

channels, the specific, prescribed, or official course or means of communication: In an emergency he was able to reach the governor without going through channels.

a groove or furrow.

a means of access: He considers the Senate a channel to the White House.

Architecture.

a flute in a column, especially one having no fillet between it and other flutes.
any of the prominent vertical grooves in a triglyph.

(in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

Telecommunications. a frequency band of sufficient width for one- or two-way communication from or to a transmitter used for television, radio, CB radio, telephone, or telegraph communication.Compare circuit (def. 10).

Computers. a path for the transfer of signals or data within a computer or between a computer and its peripheral equipment.

Digital Technology.

feed (def. 23): Learn how to create your own web channel.
a web page or website that distributes frequently updated content by means of a feed: Subscribe to my YouTube channel.

either of the two signals in stereophonic or any single signal in multichannel sound recording and reproduction.

Cell Biology. a transient opening made by a protein embedded in a cell membrane, permitting passage of specific ions or molecules into or out of the cell: calcium channel.

a tubular passage for liquids or fluids.

Building Trades.

any structural member, as one of reinforced concrete, having the form of three sides of a rectangle.
a number of such members: channel in 100-foot lengths.
channel iron.

verb (used with object), chan·neled, chan·nel·ing or (especially British) chan·nelled, chan·nel·ling.

to convey through or as through a channel: He channeled the information to us.

to direct toward or into some particular course: to channel one's interests.

to excavate as a channel.

to form a channel in; groove.

to professedly reach or convey messages from (a spiritual guide) by entering a meditative or trancelike state.

to imitate the ideas, appearance, etc., of (a person or thing that is admired): At times he seems to be channeling the late Michael Jackson’s vocal stylings.

verb (used without object), chan·neled, chan·nel·ing or (especially British) chan·nelled, chan·nel·ling.

to become marked by a channel: Soft earth has a tendency to channel during a heavy rain.

OTHER WORDS FOR channel

8 trench, trough, furrow, groove, rut, cut.

19 carry, convey, transport, funnel, pipe; conduct; route, steer.

20 concentrate, direct, focus.

See synonyms for channel on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of channel

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chanel, can(n)el, from Old French chanel, canel, from Latin canālis “waterpipe, conduit”; see canal

OTHER WORDS FROM channel

chan·nel·er; especially British, chan·nel·ler, nounmul·ti·chan·neled, adjectivemul·ti·chan·nelled, adjectivenon·chan·neled, adjective

un·chan·neled, adjectiveun·chan·nelled, adjective

Words nearby channel

Changteh, Chang Tso-lin, Changzhou, Chania, chank, channel, channel back, channel bass, channelbill, channel captain, channel catfish

Other definitions for channel (2 of 2)

channel²

[ chan-l ]

/ ˈtʃæn l /

noun

a horizontal timber or ledge built outboard from the side of a sailing vessel to spread shrouds and backstays outward.

Also chain wale, chain-wale

[cheyn-weyl, chan-l] /ˈtʃeɪnˌweɪl, ˈtʃæn l/ .

Origin of channel

First recorded in 1760–70; variant of chain wale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use channel in a sentence

As part of her job, Windheim runs the YouTube channel and produces content marketing videos to show off the products’ capabilities.
Memers are making deepfakes, and things are getting weird|Karen Hao|August 28, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Some channels are good at creating sales potential, others at unlocking it like, others at both — and some are not very good at either one.
As online shopping intensifies, e-commerce marketers are becoming increasingly reliant on Facebook’s ads|Seb Joseph|August 25, 2020|Digiday
JibJab is testing other channels like Pinterest and Twitter to help broaden its advertising channels as having roughly 40% of its new subscriber volume come from one channel is “risky.”
‘We knew it would impact our business negatively’: How joining the Facebook boycott affected one small advertiser|Kristina Monllos|August 4, 2020|Digiday
These streamers seem to be gravitating to popup channels as a way to differentiate themselves.
TV networks begin to signal willingness to prioritize streaming over linear|Tim Peterson|July 29, 2020|Digiday

Moreover, TV and online ads aren’t the only channels marketers have at their disposal.
‘Just waiting for the knockout blow’: U.K. government’s junk food ad ban yet another hit for already battered publishers|Lara O'Reilly|July 28, 2020|Digiday
People using it effectively opened a secret channel on an a public platform.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They get $8 million to dredge the channel for pleasure boats to sail to Catalina Island.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 2012 miniseries he co-starred in, Hatfields McCoys, was a ratings blockbuster for the History channel.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It cropped up on a Kurdish channel and on a local German channel.
Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS|Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is the will directing the activity of the intellect into some particular channel and keeping it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The Intellect is‌ directed into a particular channel, but to keep it there, all intruders must be excluded.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
To guide his mind into the channel of the printed exposition, he calls into play the Directory power of the attention.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Attention is the Will directing the Intellect into some particular channel and keeping it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Attention is directing the intellect into some particular channel and keeping‌ it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)

British Dictionary definitions for channel (1 of 3)

channel¹

/ (ˈtʃænəl) /

noun

a broad strait connecting two areas of sea

the bed or course of a river, stream, or canal

a navigable course through a body of water

(often plural) a means or agency of access, communication, etcto go through official channels

a course into which something can be directed or moveda new channel of thought

electronics

a band of radio frequencies assigned for a particular purpose, esp the broadcasting of a television signal
a path for an electromagnetic signala stereo set has two channels
a thin semiconductor layer between the source and drain of a field-effect transistor, the conductance of which is controlled by the gate voltage

a tubular or trough-shaped passage for fluids

a groove or flute, as in the shaft of a column

computing

a path along which data can be transmitted between a central processing unit and one or more peripheral devices
one of the lines along the length of a paper tape on which information can be stored in the form of punched holes

short for channel iron

verb -nels, -nelling or -nelled or US -nels, -neling or -neled

to provide or be provided with a channel or channels; make or cut channels in (something)

(tr) to guide into or convey through a channel or channelsinformation was channelled through to them

to serve as a medium through whom the spirit of (a person of a former age) allegedly communicates with the living

(tr) to exhibit the traits of (another person) in one’s actions

(tr) to form a groove or flute in (a column, etc)

Derived forms of channel

channeller, noun

Word Origin for channel

C13: from Old French chanel, from Latin canālis pipe, groove, conduit; see canal

British Dictionary definitions for channel (2 of 3)

channel²

/ (ˈtʃænəl) /

noun

nautical a flat timber or metal ledge projecting from the hull of a vessel above the chainplates to increase the angle of the shrouds

Word Origin for channel

C18: variant of earlier chainwale; see chain, wale 1 (planking)

British Dictionary definitions for channel (3 of 3)

Channel

/ (ˈtʃænəl) /

noun

the Channel short for English Channel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for channel

channel

[ chăn′əl ]

A specified frequency band for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, as for television signals.

The part of a field effect transistor, usually U-shaped, through which current flows from the source to the drain. See more at field effect transistor.

A pathway through a protein molecule in a cell membrane that modulates the electrical potential across the membrane by controlling the passage of small inorganic ions into and out of the cell.

The bed or deepest part of a river or harbor.

A large strait, especially one that connects two seas.

Other Idioms and Phrases with channel

channel

In addition to the idiom beginning with channel

channel surfing

also see:

go through channels

channel

OTHER WORDS FOR channel

Origin of channel

OTHER WORDS FROM channel

Words nearby channel

Other definitions for channel (2 of 2)

Origin of channel

Words related to channel

How to use channel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for channel (1 of 3)

Derived forms of channel

Word Origin for channel

British Dictionary definitions for channel (2 of 3)

Word Origin for channel

British Dictionary definitions for channel (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for channel

Other Idioms and Phrases with channel