television
Americannoun
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televisions
plural
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the transmission of programming, in the form of still or moving images, via radio waves, cable wires, satellite, or wireless network to a receiver or other screen.
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the process or product involved.
to watch television.
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an electronic device or set for receiving television broadcasts or similar programming.
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the field of television broadcasting, or similar transmission of programming.
noun
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the system or process of producing on a distant screen a series of transient visible images, usually with an accompanying sound signal. Electrical signals, converted from optical images by a camera tube, are transmitted by UHF or VHF radio waves or by cable and reconverted into optical images by means of a television tube inside a television set
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Also called: television set. a device designed to receive and convert incoming electrical signals into a series of visible images on a screen together with accompanying sound
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the content, etc, of television programmes
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the occupation or profession concerned with any aspect of the broadcasting of television programmes
he's in television
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(modifier) of, relating to, or used in the transmission or reception of video and audio UHF or VHF radio signals
a television transmitter
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of television
Explanation
A television is an electronic device that broadcasts entertaining programs you can watch and listen to. You and your parents might argue over how much television you're allowed to watch on school nights. If you're North American, you probably call a television a TV, while in the UK it's common to use the nickname telly. The word television was first used for the very earliest versions of the TV, around 1900. The word comes from the Greek root tele, "far off," and the Latin visio, "sight." Other names suggested at the time for this brand new technology included telephote and televista.
Vocabulary lists containing television
Frankenwords: Words with Roots from Different Languages
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Journalism
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Media Literacy - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He made a lot of movies and, though you might not have noticed, a good deal of television.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
As a result, the CW, its television partner, dropped the program from its broadcast lineup with a week’s notice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
A prolific voice actor whose work spanned television shows, movies, video games and even theme park rides, Cullen amassed more than 200 credits over his career.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
The dismissals, announced in a decree on state television, are thought to be part of ongoing efforts by the president to consolidate his control and prevent potential challenges to his leadership.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
And when it was raining, Karl and his friends used to come inside and play chess with them, or watch a film on the television.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Long known for its light bulbs and televisions, the Dutch consumer electronics giant has since refocused production on medical equipment.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
And as he got older, he not only used an Eye Gaze tablet to communicate but also to control things around the family home like the lights, the heating and the televisions.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
“Digital attacks on physical systems create physical problems,” said Gianni Cuozzo, chief executive of Exein, an Italian startup that embeds security software into microchips used in devices from televisions to vending machines and ventilation systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Lachlan Murdoch led Fox’s purchase of Tubi, which provides free TV channels and movies for smart televisions, keeping Fox in the streaming game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
It governs the behavior of transistors and integrated circuits, which are the essential components of electronic devices such as televisions and computers, and is also the basis of modern chemistry and biology.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
