channel

[ chan-l ]

/ ˈtʃæn l /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR channel 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.

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.

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.

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.

Nearby words

changsha, changteh, changzhou, chania, chank, channel, channel back, channel bass, channel captain, channel catfish, channel country

Origin of channel

1250–1300; Middle English chanel < Old French < Latin canālis waterpipe; see canal

SYNONYMS FOR channel

8 trough, gash, cut.

19 route, direct, steer.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR channel ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Can be confused

Chanel channel charnel

Definition for channel (2 of 2)

channel

or chain wale, chain-wale

[ 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.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for channel

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
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
The official Russian state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta republished the images along with Channel 1's report.
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISIS|Christopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Internet news agency slon.ru compiled a list of all the mistakes in the broadcast by Channel 1.
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISIS|Christopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Archaeologists have an uncanny ability to ignore the discomforts and channel the time period and the people they're studying.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That night, after telegraphing the consul at Gibraltar of his coming, he crossed the channel.
The Wreck of the Titan|Morgan Robertson
He had been several times on the very point of making a personal attempt to repair his failing fortunes beyond the Channel.
Owen Glyndwr and the Last Struggle for Welsh Independence|Arthur Granville Bradley
This caution was ignored by the "Fire Canoe's" captain, who ran his boat down into the channel that we had broken.
Old Times on the Upper Mississippi|George Byron Merrick
The water in this channel was of a clear green colour, and decidedly salt.
Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 2|John Franklin
Had the English known the channel, this might have been a more easy task than it was likely to prove.
The Three Midshipmen|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for channel (1 of 3)

channel

/ (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

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)

channel

/ (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

Science 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.

Idioms and Phrases with channel

channel

In addition to the idiom beginning with channel

channel surfing

also see:

go through channels

channel

noun

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

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

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of channel

SYNONYMS FOR channel

Related forms

Can be confused

Definition for channel (2 of 2)

channel

or chain wale, chain-wale

noun

Origin of channel

Examples from the Web for channel

British Dictionary definitions for channel (1 of 3)

channel

noun

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

Derived Forms

Word Origin for channel

British Dictionary definitions for channel (2 of 3)

channel

noun

Word Origin for channel

British Dictionary definitions for channel (3 of 3)

Channel

noun

Science definitions for channel

channel

Idioms and Phrases with channel

channel