n.
Pronunciation: ' cha-n ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English chanel, from Anglo-French, from Latin canalis channel ― more at CANAL
Date: 14th century
1 a : the bed where a natural stream of water runs b : the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait c : a strait or narrow sea between two close landmasses d : a means of communication or expression: as (1) : a path along which information (as data or music) in the form of an electrical signal passes (2) plural : a fixed or official course of communication <went through established military channel s with his grievances> e : a way, course, or direction of thought or action <new channel s of exploration> f : a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication g : CHANNELER
2 a : a usually tubular enclosed passage : CONDUIT b : a passage created in a selectively permeable cell membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins also : the proteins of such a passage ― compare ION CHANNEL
3 : a long gutter, groove, or furrow
4 : a metal bar of flattened U-shaped section