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• channel
  channel

  noun

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

  noun

  short for English Channel

channel

¹ American  

[chan-l] / ˈtʃæn l /

noun

1. 

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

2. Nautical. a navigable route between two bodies of water.

3. the deeper part of a waterway.

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

5. a course into which something may be directed.

   He hoped to direct the conversation to a new channel.

6. a route through which anything passes or progresses.

   channels of trade.

7. 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.

8. a groove or furrow.

   Synonyms:

   cut, rut, groove, furrow, trough, trench

9. a means of access.

   He considers the Senate a channel to the White House.

10. Architecture.

    1. a flute in a column, especially one having no fillet between it and other flutes.

    2. any of the prominent vertical grooves in a triglyph.

11. (in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

12. 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.

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

14. Digital Technology.

    1. feed.

       Learn how to create your own web channel.

    2. a web page or website that distributes frequently updated content by means of a feed.

       Subscribe to my YouTube channel.

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

16. 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.

17. a tubular passage for liquids or fluids.

18. Building Trades.

    1. any structural member, as one of reinforced concrete, having the form of three sides of a rectangle.

    2. a number of such members.

       channel in 100-foot lengths.

    3. channel iron.

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verb (used with object)

• channels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• channeled,
  past participle,  past
• channelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• channeling,
  present participle
• channelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to convey through or as through a channel.

   He channeled the information to us.

   Synonyms:

   focus, direct, concentrate, steer, route, conduct, pipe, funnel, transport, convey, carry

2. to direct toward or into some particular course.

   to channel one's interests.

3. to excavate as a channel.

4. to form a channel in; groove.

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

6. 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)

• channels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• channeled,
  past participle,  past
• channelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• channeling,
  present participle
• channelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to become marked by a channel.

   Soft earth has a tendency to channel during a heavy rain.

channel ² American  

[chan-l] / ˈtʃæn l /

Also chain wale,

noun

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

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channel ¹ British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

1. a broad strait connecting two areas of sea

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

3. a navigable course through a body of water

4. (often plural) a means or agency of access, communication, etc

   to go through official channels

5. a course into which something can be directed or moved

   a new channel of thought

6. electronics

   1. a band of radio frequencies assigned for a particular purpose, esp the broadcasting of a television signal

   2. a path for an electromagnetic signal

      a stereo set has two channels

   3. a thin semiconductor layer between the source and drain of a field-effect transistor, the conductance of which is controlled by the gate voltage

7. a tubular or trough-shaped passage for fluids

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

9. computing

   1. a path along which data can be transmitted between a central processing unit and one or more peripheral devices

   2. one of the lines along the length of a paper tape on which information can be stored in the form of punched holes

10. short for channel iron

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verb

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

2. (tr) to guide into or convey through a channel or channels

   information was channelled through to them

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

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

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

Channel ² British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

1. short for English Channel

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channel ³ British  

/ ˈtʃænəl /

noun

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

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channel Scientific  

/ chăn′əl /

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

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

3. See more at field effect transistor

4. 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.

5. The bed or deepest part of a river or harbor.

6. A large strait, especially one that connects two seas.

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channel Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing channel

• go through channels

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• channeler
  noun
• channeller
  noun
• multichanneled
  adjective
• multichannelled
  adjective
• nonchanneled
  adjective
• unchanneled
  adjective
• unchannelled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• channeling
  present
• channelling
  present
• channeled
  past
• channelled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• channel
  simple
• channels
  simple
• have channeled
  perfect
• have channelled
  perfect
• has channeled
  perfect
• has channelled
  perfect
• am channeling
  progressive
• am channelling
  progressive
• are channeling
  progressive
• are channelling
  progressive
• is channeling
  progressive
• is channelling
  progressive
• have been channeling
  perfect progressive
• have been channelling
  perfect progressive
• has been channeling
  perfect progressive
• has been channelling
  perfect progressive

Past

• channeled
  simple
• channelled
  simple
• had channeled
  perfect
• had channelled
  perfect
• was channeling
  progressive
• was channelling
  progressive
• were channeling
  progressive
• were channelling
  progressive
• had been channeling
  perfect progressive
• had been channelling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will channel
  simple
• will have channeled
  perfect
• will have channelled
  perfect
• will be channeling
  progressive
• will be channelling
  progressive
• will have been channeling
  perfect progressive
• will have been channelling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of channel¹

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

Origin of channel²

First recorded in 1760–70; variant of chain wale

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Explanation

A channel is a passageway, a means of access for a thing, a communication, or an idea. Think of a channel as sort of a tunnel or a funnel that moves something directly through. The noun channel can be used for many such avenues. It can mean a waterway such as the English Channel — the "Chunnel" is a tunnel beneath the Channel — or a means of accomplishing a goal, as in "going through legal channels." Use it as a verb when you channel your energies to achieve success.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

channel Channel channels channeled channelled channeling channelling

But the function is the same: The stage provides a channel for the repressed emotions of these characters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Talks in the main diplomatic channel, mediated by Qatar, are stuck on whether the U.S. or Iran should be the first to make concessions to move talks along, the mediators said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The group launched a Telegram channel shortly before the attack and included a link to the page in the first message it sent through the system.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Velshi’s on-air analysis will be augmented by an additional feed called VelshiCast, a behind-the-scenes look that will stream on MS NOW’s YouTube channel.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

There’s another channel that only has people in funny-looking clothes dancing and singing in very strange places.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

Channel 4 bosses are due to appear in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee on 17 November, so we may hear more then.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

We put some of these questions to Channel 4's boss Priya Dogra on Thursday.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

Over the decade of his offending, Brand sold out stand-up comedy venues and theatres, broadcasters - including MTV, Channel 4 and the BBC - started to throw money at him.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Based on the evidence available and the balance of probabilities, Channel 4 and CPL's welfare protocols were compliant with Ofcom's broadcasting code.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

A cold wind was coming in off the Channel, and the greatcoats lay on the roadsides far inland.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Walmart executives have long touted the potential to monetize the data it collects on the 280 million people who pass through its nearly 11,000 stores and digital channels each week in 19 countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

While Roku provides Fox with an opportunity to be more aggressive in marketing its channels, Fox has pledged that the platform will remain open to distributing content from competitors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

And another important feature is that blades are cast with tiny channels that allow a flow of cooler air to coat them in a kind of film while the aircraft engine is working.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The broader opportunity lies in using complex liquid mixtures to help form the tiny filtration channels needed to separate their components.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

Unheeding, Ged rowed always slower, looking over his shoulder, choosing a way among channels or shoals and shallows that he alone could see.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

In the comments of Stewart’s statement, some followers defended the celebrity homemaker and said outrage over the costume could be channeled into addressing homelessness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Martin channeled an Ireland he’d been steeped in through family, an expat community in London and summers and Christmases spent in his parents’ native counties with visits to the islands off the western coast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

It was so much energy getting channeled into one big opting-out.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

When he sat down to write "Insidious: Out of the Further," the sixth installement of the blockbuster horror franchise, director Jacob Chase channeled his fears over a major life event: becoming a parent.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

I think of the fervor in my father’s voice, channeled into sermons that shook the rafters.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

The "polka dot queen" channelled hallucinations and battles with mental health into vibrant art featuring her trademark dots, nets and infinity motifs over a career spanning decades and continents.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

The money had instead been channelled to new property developments, resulting in hundreds of unfinished projects.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

In between, she channelled the energy of the Tartan Army from the World Cup by leading the crowd in a a chant of "No Scotland No Party".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Asked by AFP about Russia's economic woes, the Russian leader on Thursday channelled Mark Twain.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

The fear in her voice channelled perfectly with the charmspeak.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Andrew, were you channeling Peter Buck on guitar?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Friedman was, as usual, channeling mainstream foreign policy dogma, which briefly held that constructive change might emerge from the chaotic aftermath of the Oct.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

Here, drawing on comments from many readers and channeling my own modest ideas, are suggestions to improve how capitalism works.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Then we applied temporary cat tattoos onto our arms, channeling our inner teen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

In the Adams formulation, aristocracies were to society as the passions were to the individual personality, permanent fixtures susceptible to disciplined containment and artful channeling, but never altogether removable.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

In September, Seoul announced plans for a 162.3 trillion won "Future Fund" next year, aimed at channelling record tax revenues from the country’s chip boom into long-term growth.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Depending on the size of the site, you may also hear the thrum of transformers in substations channelling electricity.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

He has staked his leadership on aggressive reforms that aim to deliver double-digit growth, slashing bureaucratic red tape, empowering the private sector and channelling vast resources into mega-projects.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

Founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, she campaigned against seal hunting and animal testing, channelling her passion into advocacy.

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025

‘Who wants to be the next Popsicle?’ she yelled, channelling anger into her charmspeak.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

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