transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce transmission (audio)
tranz-
1
: an act, process, or instance of transmitting
transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse
2
: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations
also : the act or process of transmitting by radio or television
3
: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the driveshaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a live axle
also : the speed-changing gears in such an assembly
4
: something that is transmitted : message
transmissive adjective
transmissivity noun

Did you know?

Since trans- means "across", it's not hard to see the meaning of transmission. Disease transmission occurs when an infection passes from one living thing to another. TV signal transmission can be interrupted by tree leaves, including moving leaves and branches during a storm. Your car's transmission transmits the engine's power to the axle, changing the gears to keep the engine working with maximum efficiency at various speeds.

Examples of transmission in a Sentence

The equipment is used for the transmission of television signals. We are receiving a live transmission from the scene of the accident. the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next My car has a manual transmission. This car comes with automatic transmission.
Recent Examples on the Web Another part of the story is that the U.S. currently lacks the infrastructure (transmission capacity) for carrying wind and solar energy from rural areas or offshore sites to population and manufacturing centers. William F. Shughart Ii, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023 A bit more common are fires that start underneath transmission lines because of birds. John Riha, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023 When power plants or transmission lines shut down unexpectedly, the momentum in their spinning mass offers an instantaneous supply of energy that cushions the blow, thus protecting equipment and preventing outages. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Nov. 2023 It’ll likely be recommended for travelers, lab workers, or people living in U.S. territories where transmission might occur. Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 10 Nov. 2023 Politics March 23, 2020 But evacuation failures were only one element of the devastation in Paradise, which was traced to a high-voltage PG&E transmission line that was nearly a hundred years old. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2023 The sentiment of connectivity and transmission that the exhibition was designed to convey was echoed by Rashid Mohamed Rashid, CEO of Mayhoola for Investments LLC, the parent company of Beymen, Valentino, and Balmain. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 7 Nov. 2023 Additionally, Contra Costa Health has not identified any ongoing sources of transmission at the card room. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 6 Nov. 2023 Contra Costa Health has not identified a current or ongoing source of transmission at the casino. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transmission.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin transmission-, transmissio, from transmittere to transmit

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of transmission was in 1611

Cite this Entry

“Transmission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transmission. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

transmission

noun
trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce transmission (audio) tranz- How to pronounce transmission (audio)
1
: an act, process, or example of transmitting
2
: the passage of radio waves in the space between transmitting and receiving stations
3
: the gears by which the power is transmitted from the engine to the axle that gives motion to a motor vehicle
4
: something transmitted

Medical Definition

transmission

noun
trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce transmission (audio) tranz- How to pronounce transmission (audio)
: an act, process, or instance of transmitting
transmission of HIV
synaptic transmission

Legal Definition

transmission

noun
trans·​mis·​sion tranz-ˈmi-shən, trans- How to pronounce transmission (audio)
: an act, process, or instance of transmitting
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!