channel
Channel (noun) means a stretch of water connecting two larger bodies of water, or the deeper navigable path through a body of water. Example: “Ships followed the marked channel to avoid running aground.”
How to use channel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA route, passage, or path for water, communication, or information to travel through — literal or figurative.
Word forms
channelled past tense, channeled past tense, channels plural, channels plural, channels singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Ships followed the marked _____ to avoid running aground.
Etymology
From Old French chanel, from Latin canalis ("groove, canal") — a doublet of "canal."
Related words
Rhymes for channel
See all rhymes for channel →Frequently asked questions
What does “channel” mean?
The word “channel” means a stretch of water connecting two larger bodies of water, or the deeper navigable path through a body of water. In plain terms, a route, passage, or path for water, communication, or information to travel through — literal or figurative.
How do you pronounce “channel”?
“Channel” is pronounced CHA-nuhl (/ˈt͡ʃeə̯nəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “channel” in a sentence?
Here is “channel” used in a sentence: “Ships followed the marked channel to avoid running aground.”
What is another word for “channel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “channel” include sound, strait, station and gutter.
What part of speech is “channel”?
Depending on how it is used, “channel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “channel” come from?
The word “channel” comes from Latin. From Old French chanel, from Latin canalis ("groove, canal") — a doublet of "canal.".
Is “channel” a common word?
“Channel” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “channel” have?
“Channel” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stretch of water connecting two larger bodies of water, or the deeper navigable path through a body of water.
What is the difference between a channel and a strait?
The terms overlap and are sometimes used interchangeably. Both are stretches of water linking two larger bodies, but a strait is typically narrow and connects two seas or oceans. 'Channel' is a broader word that can also mean the deep, navigable path ships follow through shallower water.
What is the difference between a channel and a canal?
A channel is a natural stretch or deep path of water, like the English Channel. A canal is an artificial waterway dug by people for shipping or irrigation, such as the Panama Canal. The key difference is that channels form naturally while canals are man-made.
What is an example of a channel?
The best-known example is the English Channel, the body of water separating England from France and connecting the Atlantic to the North Sea. On a smaller scale, the dredged channel marked by buoys in a harbour, showing boats the deep water, is the navigable sense of the word.
What are the types of channel in geography?
In the water sense there are two main ideas. One is a broad natural channel — a wide strait or arm of sea between two landmasses. The other is a navigable channel — the deeper path within a river, harbour, or shallow sea that is safe for boats to pass through.
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