channel

1 of 3

noun (1)

chan·​nel ˈcha-nᵊl 

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

crossed the English Channel

d

: a means of communication or expression: such as

(1)

: a path along which information (such as data or music) in the form of an electrical signal passes

(2)

channels plural : a fixed or official course of communication

went through established military channels with his grievances

e

: a way, course, or direction of thought or action

new channels of exploration

f

: a band of frequencies of sufficient width for a single radio or television communication

g

: channeler

h

: an account on an online media sharing or streaming service from which one can make media content (such as videos) available to others using the service

The video was posted Saturday and has been viewed thousands of times since being picked up by YouTube channels devoted to UFOs and unsolved mysteries …

—Mark Price

The Washington Post and Bloomberg covered the Russia-United States summit live on their Twitch channels.

—Alexandra Arriaga

2

a

: a usually tubular enclosed passage : conduit

the poison channel in a snake's fangs

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

a road channel

4

: a metal bar of flattened U-shaped section

channel

2 of 3

verb

channeled or channelled; channeling or channelling

transitive verb

1

a

: to form, cut, or wear a channel in

The river channeled a new course.

b

: to make a groove in

channel a chair leg

2

: to convey or direct into or through a channel

channel his energy into useful work

3

: to serve as a channeler or intermediary for

a 35,000-year-old female channeled by a 40-year-old housewife

channel

3 of 3

noun (2)

: one of the flat ledges of heavy plank or metal bolted edgewise to the outside of a ship to increase the spread of the shrouds (see shroud entry 1 sense 3a)

Synonyms of channel

Noun (1)

• canal
• aqueduct

Verb

• direct
• pipe
• funnel
• channelize
• carry
• conduct
• canalize

Examples of channel in a Sentence

Noun (1)

water was drained from the swamp through a specially constructed channel

the world record for swimming the channel between France and Great Britain

you need to make arrangements through the proper channels

had to replace the main water channel

the channel went into a trance and began speaking in what was purported to be the voice of the deceased woman

Verb

She's started channeling her anger towards me.

He channeled millions of dollars into the program.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the Netherlands and neighboring Germany cargo ships that ply the Rhine and its offshoots have been forced to carry significantly less freight or risk running aground in shallow navigation channels. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

The system tracks drones in real-time and feeds data gathered from diverse sensors into a single channel for military personnel to evaluate. — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

Ly spoke from experience, since she’s created an entirely new corner of her online world by channeling her inner crazy cat mom. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Quantum Systems plans to channel the technology straight into a new line of interceptor drones. — New Atlas, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English chanel, from Anglo-French, from Latin canalis channel — more at canal

Noun (2)

alteration of chainwale, from chain entry 1 + wale entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1672, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing channel

• back channel
• calcium channel blocker
• channel bass
• channel catfish
• channel-hopping
• channel surfing
• inter-channel
• ion channel

Rhymes for channel

• annal
• annul
• cannel
• flannel
• panel
• pannel
• multichannel
• perianal

Kids Definition

channel

1 of 2 noun

chan·​nel ˈchan-ᵊl 

1

: the bed of a stream

2

: the deeper part of a river, harbor, or strait

3

: a strait or a narrow sea between two close large areas of land

the English Channel

4

: a way of passing something along

negotiating through diplomatic channels

5

: a group of frequencies close enough in value for a single radio or television communication

6

: a closed passage through which something flows

7

: a long gutter, groove, or track

channel

2 of 2 verb

channeled or channelled; channeling or channelling

1

: to form a channel in

2

: to direct into or through a channel

Medical Definition

channel

noun

chan·​nel ˈchan-ᵊl 

1

: a usually tubular enclosed passage

2

a

: a passage created in a selectively permeable membrane by a conformational change in membrane proteins see ion channel

b

: a protein or cluster of proteins that functions as a channel see calcium channel blocker