TOP

Definition of channel noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

channel

noun
 
/ˈtʃænl/
 
/ˈtʃænl/
jump to other results

    on television/radio

  1. [countable] a television station
    • a television/TV channel
    • cable/digital/satellite channels
    • a news channel
    • a music/sports/movie channel
    • to change/switch channels
    • on a channel What's on Channel 4 tonight?
    see also pay channel, public access channel
    Collocations TelevisionTelevisionWatching
    • watch television/​TV/​a show/(British English) a programme/(North American English) a program/​a documentary/​a pilot/​a rerun/​a repeat
    • see (especially British English) an ad/(especially North American English) a commercial/​the news/​the weather
    • catch/​miss a show/​a programme/​a program/​an episode/​the news
    • pick up/​reach for/​grab the remote (control)
    • change/​switch channel
    • surf (through)/ (especially North American English) flip through/ (especially British English) flick through the channels
    • sit in front of/​switch on/​switch off/​turn on/​turn off the television/​the TV/​the TV set
    • have/​install satellite (TV)/cable (TV)/a satellite dish
    Showing
    • show a programme/​a documentary/​an ad/​a commercial
    • screen a programme/​a documentary
    • run an ad/​a commercial
    • broadcast/ (especially North American English) air/​repeat a show/​a programme/​a documentary/​an episode/​a series
    • go out/​air/​be recorded live
    • attract/​draw (in)/pull (in) viewers
    • be a hit with viewers/​audiences/​critics
    • get (low/​high) ratings
    Appearing
    • be on/​appear on television/​TV/​a TV show
    • take part in a phone-in/​a game show/​a quiz show/​a reality TV show
    • host a show/​a programme/​series/​a game show/​a quiz show/​a talk show/(British English) a chat show
    • be/​become/​work as a/​an (British English) TV presenter/​talk-show host/​sports commentator/​anchorman/(British English) newsreader
    • read/​present the news
    • appear/​perform live (on TV)
    Programme-making
    • do/​film/​make a show/​a programme/​a documentary/​an episode/​a pilot/​a series/​an ad/​a commercial
    • work on a soap (opera)/a pilot (episode)/a sitcom
    • write/​produce a drama/​sitcom/​spin-off/​comedy series
    Extra Examples
    • I changed channels when the news came on.
    • Last year, the company launched its own TV channel.
    • Lily surfed the channels on the television.
    • There's an interesting documentary on Channel 4 tonight.
    • Most channels broadcast 24 hours a day.
    Topics TV, radio and newsb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • radio
    • television
    • TV
    verb + channel
    • change
    • flip
    • flip through
    channel + verb
    • broadcast
    preposition
    • on a/​the channel
    See full entry
  2. [countable] a band of radio waves used for making television or radio broadcasts
    • radio channels
    • terrestrial/satellite channels
    Topics TV, radio and newsb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • radio
    • television
    • TV
    verb + channel
    • change
    • flip
    • flip through
    channel + verb
    • broadcast
    preposition
    • on a/​the channel
    See full entry
  3. for communicating

  4. [countable]
    (also channels [plural])
    a method or system that people use to get information, to communicate, or to send something 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.
    • Steps are being taken to implement a ceasefire through diplomatic channels.
    see also blue channel
    Extra Examples
    • If you want a visa, you will have to go through the proper channels.
    • Journalists always have indirect channels for getting information.
    • She first tried to get a doctor's certificate through official channels.
    • The government hopes to settle the dispute through diplomatic channels.
    • an effective channel for communication
    • attempts to open up new channels of communication
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • direct
    • indirect
    • formal
    verb + channel
    • go through
    • use
    • establish
    preposition
    • through a/​the channel
    phrases
    • a channel of communication
    • channels of distribution
    See full entry
  5. [countable] a means by which data is communicated and exchanged between elements of a computer system or other system
    • an audio channel
    Topics Computersc1
  6. for ideas/feelings

  7. [countable] 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.
    Topics Feelingsc1
  8. water

  9. [countable] a passage that water can flow along, especially in the ground, on the bottom of a river, etc.
    • drainage channels in the rice fields
    Extra Examples
    • A channel is being dug to divert the river.
    • The drainage channels had survived since the Roman occupation.
    • Irrigation channels supply the crops with water.
    • The estate has fountains and water channels.
    Topics Geographyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deep
    • narrow
    • drainage
    verb + channel
    • form
    • block
    See full entry
  10. [countable] a deep passage of water in a river or near the coast that can be used as route for shipsTopics Geographyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • deep
    • narrow
    • drainage
    verb + channel
    • form
    • block
    See full entry
  11. [countable] a passage of water that connects two areas of water, especially two seas
    • the Bristol Channel
    Topics Transport by waterb2, Geographyb2
  12. the Channel
    [singular] the area of sea between England and France, also known as the English Channel
    • the Channel Tunnel
    • cross-Channel ferries
    • across the Channel news from across the Channel (= from France)
    see also the English Channel
    Extra Examples
    • We crossed the Channel in stormy weather.
    • The government is watching economic developments across the Channel with great interest.
  13. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chanel, from Latin canalis ‘pipe, groove, channel’, from canna ‘reed’ from Greek kanna, kannē, of Semitic origin. Compare with canal.
See channel in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee channel in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day