/ ˈtʃænl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
ON TELEVISION / RADIO
1.
[ C ] a television station :
What's on Channel 4 tonight?
a movie / sports channel
to change / switch channels
2.
[ C ] a band of radio waves used for broadcasting television or radio programmes :
terrestrial / satellite channels
FOR COMMUNICATING
3.
[ C ] (also chan·nels [ pl. ]) a method or system that people use to get information, to communicate, or to send sth somewhere :
Complaints must be made through the proper channels .
The newsletter is a useful channel of communication between teacher and students.
The company has worldwide distribution channels.
FOR IDEAS / FEELINGS
4.
[ C ] a way of expressing ideas and feelings :
The campaign provided a channel for protest against the war.
Music is a great channel for releasing your emotions.
WATER
5.
[ C ] a passage that water can flow along, especially in the ground, on the bottom of a river, etc. :
drainage channels in the rice fields
6.
[ C ] a deep passage of water in a river or near the coast that can be used as route for ships
7.
[ C ] a passage of water that connects two areas of water, especially two seas :
the Bristol Channel
8.
the Channel [ sing. ] the area of sea between England and France, also known as the English Channel :
the Channel Tunnel
cross-Channel ferries
news from across the Channel (= from France)
■ verb
( -ll- , NAmE usually -l- ) [ vn ]
IDEAS / FEELINGS
1.
channel sth (into sth) to direct money, feelings, ideas, etc. towards a particular thing or purpose :
He channels his aggression into sport.
MONEY / HELP
2.
channel sth (through sth) to send money, help, etc. using a particular route :
Money for the project will be channelled through local government.
WATER / LIGHT
3.
to carry or send water, light, etc. through a passage :
A sensor channels the light signal along an optical fibre.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French chanel , from Latin canalis pipe, groove, channel, from canna reed from Greek kanna , kannē , of Semitic origin. Compare with canal .