/ ˈtelɪvɪʒn; NAmE / noun ( abbr. TV )
1.
(also ˈtelevision set ) (also BrE informal telly ) [ C ] a piece of electrical equipment with a screen on which you can watch programmes with moving pictures and sounds :
a colour television
a widescreen television
a plasma screen television
to turn the television on / off
2.
(also BrE informal telly ) [ U ] the programmes broadcast on television :
We don't do much in the evenings except watch television .
3.
[ U ] the system, process or business of broadcasting television programmes :
satellite / terrestrial / cable / digital television
the television news
a television documentary
a television company / presenter
I'd like to work in television (= for a television company) .
—see also cable television , closed-circuit television
•
IDIOMS
- on (the) television
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent.: from tele- at a distance + vision .