transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmi-shən 

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

tran(t)s-ˈmi-siv 

ˌtranz-

adjective

transmissivity

ˌtran(t)s-(ˌ)mi-ˈsi-və-tē 

ˌtranz-

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

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transmission

• automatic transmission
• manual transmission
• community transmission

• automatic transmission
• manual transmission
• community transmission

Kids Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tran(t)s-ˈmish-ən  tranz- 

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  tranz- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting

transmission of HIV

synaptic transmission

Legal Definition

transmission

noun

trans·​mis·​sion tranz-ˈmi-shən, trans- 

: an act, process, or instance of transmitting