channel

channel

channel¹ [chan′əl]

n.

[ME chanel, canel < OFr: see CANAL]

1. the bed of a running stream, river, etc.

2. the deeper part of a river, harbor, etc.

3. a body of water joining two larger bodies of water

4. a tubelike passage for liquids

5.

a) any means of passage

b) a course through which something moves or is transmitted, conveyed, expressed, etc.

6. [pl.] the proper or official course of transmission of communications [to make a request through army channels]

7. a long groove or furrow

8. a rolled metal bar whose section is shaped thus ⊔: also channel iron (or bar)

9. a narrow band of frequencies within which a radio or television transmitting station must keep its signal to prevent interference with other transmitters

10. any path that conducts an electronic signal between two points; specif., a pathway by which data is transmitted between two computers, a mainframe and a terminal, or a computer and a peripheral

vt.

channeled or channelled, channeling or channelling

1. to make a channel or channels in

2. to flute (a pillar, column, etc.)

3. to send through a channel

4. in spiritualism, to serve as a medium for (a spirit)

channel² [chan′əl]

n.

[orig., chain wale]

Historical any of several metal ledges on the sides of a ship used to secure the rigging and keep the ropes free of the gunwales